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COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 



Heroes and Greathearts 

AND THEIR ANIMAL FRIENDS 



JOHN T. DALE 



FAIRFAX PUBLISHING COMPANY 

(Not Inc.) 

80 Wabash Avenue 
CHICAGO 



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LI88ARY of OONiSRESS^ 
JwoCODies rt«;t--rO' ' 

AUG 17 iy08 

CLASS Ot_ AAc, V. 

COP Y d. 
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Copyright, 1908. 
By JOHN T. DALE 



PREFACE 

Every boy and girl will have their heroes. Who shall they 
be? Shall they be the champions of the prize ring, the bnllies 
<\'ho terrorize all who are smaller and weaker than themselves, 
or nothing higher than the captain of a baseball team or society 
leader ? 

Or shall their heroes be the men and women who have stood 
for the right and who have enriched the world by noble deeds 
and exalted lives. 

Almost every child has within him a nobility of soul which 
recognizes these qualities in others, and which will respond to 
the influence and example of a great life. 

Fortunate, indeed, is the youth to whom such an appeal to 
his better nature is made during his early years while the mind 
is plastic and impressionable. 

The purpose of this book is to direct attention to some of 
those great souls who have been amongst the leaders in the great 
conflict for truth and justice — to show the gentle and kindly 
side of their natures by their love and attachment to the ani- 
mals under their care. 

It is hoped that the book may be used to advantage by teach- 
ers during the time allotted to "Nature Studies,'' or at any 
spare moments when they can read selections to their classes. 

iii 



iv PREFACE. 

These selections can be amplified by the teacher in her own lan- 
guage if she desires, or questions asked, as preferred. 

It is hoped also that it may be used as supplementary reading 
in the schools. It is also designed for Bands of Mercy and for 
the homes of the people. 

It is believed that the incidents connected with the great char- 
acters mentioned, together with the poems and recitations, will 
influence the reader to words and acts of kindness and sym- 
pathy. 



CONTENTS 

Alexandra, Queen 52 

Anselm and the Hare — Gulielma Zollinger 110 

Agassiz, Louis 219 

Arab, The, and His Favorite Steed 77 

Ben Hazzard's Guests — Anna P. Marshall 32 

Butterfly, The — Author Unknown 50 

Bismarck, Prince 59 

Bluebird, The — Emily Huntington Miller 75 

Boone and His Dogs 76 

Boy, The Barefoot— John G. Whittier 92 

Bonheur, Rosa 104 

Bird, The Truant— Selected 127 

Bob White — Lucy Larcom 144 

Browning, Robert, and Elizabeth Barrett 152 

Be Kind to Living Things — The Animal Friend 155 

Bryant, William Cullen 165 

Blessed are the Merciful — Author Unknown 191 

Building of the Nest — Margaret E. Sangster 200 

Broncho, The Tamed— Adapted 201 

Burns', Robert, Love of Animals 264 

Custer, Gen. George A,, and His Horses 43 

Cleveland, Grover 64 

Carrier Pigeons — Adapted 230 

Cheer Up— Eva Best, in Child Life 261 

Dogs, Four — Alice J. Cleator, in Pets and Animals 54 

Duke, The, the Boy and the Toad 55 

Dame Duck 's First Lecture — Aunt Effie 's Rhymes 96 

Dumas, Alexander, and His Pets 100 

V 



vi CONTENTS 

Dick and Blind Charley 119 

Dickens, Charles 143 

Darling, The Story of Grace 157 

Dog, Senator Vest 's Speech on the 205 

Dog, The Obliging — Adapted ; 213 

Dogs, St. Bernard " 234 

Dick Martin, the Brave Irishman 267 

Dogs at Work 287 

Elephant, The Grateful 170 

Farrar, Canon, at the Seaside 107 

Family, A Happy— D. H. K. Goodale 137 

Grant, General, and His Brave Horse 24 

God, Out in the Fields with— British Weekly 71 

Garibaldi and the Drowning Woman , 87 

Good, The Keal— John Boyle O 'Reilly 195 

General Custer and the Meadow Lark — Julie M, Lipman 244 

Gracie and the Bluebirds — Jennie Harrison 252 

Gold Locks ' Dream — Clara Doty Bates 257 

God, The Love of. 269 

Heroes — Edwin Dean Proctor 13 

Horse, To My — Selected 85 

Horse, The Family 95 

Hoar, Senator George F., and the Birds 123 

Hour, The Children 's— Henry W. Longfellow 161 

How the Chinese Treat Animals — Adapted 194 

Horse, The Faithful— Adapted 199 

Horse, The Doctor 's — Adapted 271 

How Animals Make Their Toilets 296 

If Ever I See— Author Unknown 108 



CONTENTS vii 

Ivan and the Quail — Adapted 130 

Insects, The Power of 300 

Kingdom, My — Robert Louis Stevenson 149 

Kittens, The Story of the Little White— Adapted 173 

Kitten, The Bad Boys and the 190 

Kangaroo, The Brave — Adapted 209 

Kindness to Animals — Author Unknown 213 

King Eichard and the Bird — Emma E. Brown 227 

Killingworth, The Birds of— Henry W. Longfellow 238 

Kittens, Three Little — House and School Visitor 241 

Lincoln and the Birds and Kittens 19 

Lee, Gen. Robert, and His Horse, Traveller 36 

Landseer, Sir Edwin 80 

Little Brown Hands — Mary H. Krout 81 

Lowell, James Russell, and the Robins 82 

Lamb, The— William Blake lOo 

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth 161 

Lion, The — Adapted 256 

Lord Shaftesbury 259 

Lord N-eison ' 279 

Lost — Three Little Robins 289 

Lamartine 's Last Shot 291 

Little Gustava — Celia Thaxter 294 

Litle Trout — Author Unknown 298 

Mercy? What are Bands of 14 

Meadow, In the — Olive A. Wadsworth 25 

Monkey, The Traveling — Marion Douglas 68 

Miles Keough 's Horse — Author Unknown 113 

Message, The Swallow 's — Adapted 239 

Nests, Some Birds ' . . 137 



viii CONTENTS 

Nest, The Emperor's Bird's — Henry W, Longfellow 139 

Newton, Sir Isaac and His Dog, Diamond ^ 237 

Only an Insect — Author Unknown 118 

Picnic, The Birds '—Selected 21 

Prayer for Dumb Creatures — Prof. G. E. Goodrich 44 

Prayer, The Horse 's — S. J. Stevens . 216 

Roosevelt, Mr. and Mrs 52 

Ride, The Horseback — Sara Jane Lippincott 61 

Robert of Lincoln — William- Cullen Bryant 166 

Redbreasts, The Little Robin — Selected 177 

Ring the Bells in Your Steeples — Mary Riddell Corley 214 

Rome, A Scene in — Adapted 251 

Robin Redbreast — William Allingham 284 

Sheridan, General, and His Horse 28 

St. Francis and the Birds 109 

Stephens, Alexander H., and His Pets 112 

Spitz 's Education — Mrs. Charles Heaton 133 

Stevenson, Robert Louis 14" 

Saving Mother — Author Unknown 171 

Simon Grub's Dream — Western Humane Journal 181 

Scott, Sir Walter 187 

Sportsman, The Merciful — Sam Walter Foss 197 

Seven, A Child of — Algernon C. Swinburne 204 

Stephenson, George, and the Mother Bird — Dr. Simeon Gilbert.... 211 

Stanley, Henry M., and the Cat 226 

Song of the Travelers Over the Great St. Bernard — Author Unknown 234 

Somebody 's Mother 272 

Thrush, The Brown — Lucy Larconi 41 

Trough, The Watering — Sarah K. Bolton 46 



CONTENTS ix 

The Arab and His Favorite Steed — Caroline E. Norton 77 

The Cry of the Little Brothers— Ethelred Barry 101 

The March of Company A — Century 120 

Twenty Froggies — George Cooper 159 

The Horse, the Dog and the Man— S. E. Kiser 188 

The Cripple Boy and the Horse 196 

The Story of Wilson's Broncho — Ursula Tannenforst 220 

The Story of Eaggles, the Indian Pony — J. E. Stevens, adapted. , 222 

The Bundle Was I — Adapted from Dumb Animals 243 

The Montana Man and His Horse 247 

The Ship and the Sea Gull— Author Unknown 248 

The Pig and the Dog 274 

The Dog and the Tramps 276 

They Didn 't Think— Author Unknown 281 

Uncle Phil 's Story— Sidney Dayre 179 

Used to Kill Birds— Boyce 's Monthly. . 210 

Victoria, Queen 47 

What the Sparrows Say — Author Unknown 16 

Webster and the Woodehuck 72 

Whittier and His Pets 90 

What it Costs to Kill the Birds 117 

What Animals Do for Us 134 

Whistle Away— Toronto Truth 208 

Wade Hampton and His Cat — Adapted 215 

What a Soldier Did— H. M. Haight 224 

When Old Jack Died— Whitcomb Eiley 265 

Who Owns the Farm?— Kate M. Post 278 



INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS 

Agassiz, Louis 218 

Audubon, John J 116 

Alexandra, Queen 51 

Bonheur, Eosa, portrait 103 

Bismarck, Prince '. , 58 

Burns, Eobert, and his home 263 

Browning, Eobert 151 

Browning, Elizabeth Barrett 153 

Bird, The Truant — From painting by Meyer Von Bremen . 128 

Bryant, William Cullen, and his home 164 

Cleveland, Grover 63 

Custer, Gen. George A 42 

l^aUng, Grace, The Story of — From painting by Brooks 156 

Dogs, St, BeaTaard — From painting by J. Deiker 233 

Dumas, Alexandei' 99 

Dog, The — From painting by F. l^tsn, . 206 

Dickens, Charles, and His Home . 142 

Dogs, St. Bernard. 253 

Elephant, The 169 

Family, A Happy — From painting by Landseer 136 

Family, The Deer — From painting by Landseer 66 

Farrar, Canon 106 

Gladstone, William E 70 

Grant, Gen. U. S 23 

Garibaldi 86 

Horse, My — From painting by Eosa Bonheur 84 

Hoar, Hon. George F 124 

X 



ILLUSTRATIONS xi 

Kittens, TW Three — From painting by Adam . 240 

Landseer, Sir Eilwitt 79 

Lincoln, Abraham " 18 

Longfellow, Henry Wa^^w^Mt^^i, and His Home 160 

Lee, Gen. Eobert E., portrait 37 

Lee, General, on Traveller , . . 39 

Lion, The 255 

Meado-w, In the — Prom painting by Vuillf roy 27 

Monkey, The Sick — From painting by Landseer 67 



Newton, Sir Isaac 



Eedbreast, Robin — From painting by Muuier 284 

Ride, The Horseback 60 

Roosevelt, Theodore 53 

Sheridan, Gen. P. H 31 

Stevenson, Robert Louis - 146 

Saved — From painting by Landseer 178 

Scott, Sir Walter, and His Home 186 

Seven, A Child of — From painting by H. Hardy 203 

Spitz 132 

Trough, The Watering — From painting by Bouveret 45 

Victoria, Queen 48 

Whittier, John Greenleaf . . 89 

Wellington, Duke of 56 

Webster, Daniel 73 



242 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. 

(I) MERRIAM'S MEAN NORMAL TEMPERATURE FOR HOTTEST SIX WEEKS OF 

YEAR. (PLATE 44.) 

In the same paper (1894) from which we have already made extracts, 
Merriam calls attention to the fact that, while his summation indices 
(our plate 37) appear to furnish satisfactory criteria for relating tem- 
perature conditions to the northward limits of species distribution, yet 
these do not seem at all satisfactory in connection with the southward 
extension of northern forms. This author writes (1894, p. 233) : 

It is evident * * * that the southward range of Boreal species * * * is regulated by 
some cause other than the total quantity of heat [i. e., his summation indices]. This cause 
was believed to be the mean temperatm-e of the hottest part of the year, for it is reasonable 
to suppose that Boreal species in ranging southward will encounter, sooner or later, a 
degree of heat they are unable to endure. * * * For experimental purposes, and without 
attempting unnecessary refinement, the mean normal temperature of the 6 hottest consecu- 
tive weeks of summer was arbitrarily chosen and platted on a large contour map of the 
United States, as in the case of the total quantity of heat. 

We here reproduce in its essentials, as our plate 44, the chart thus 
obtained — Merriam' s (1894) plate 13 — because of its scarcity and of 
its interest in connection with our own studies. The marked differences 
between this chart and that of our plate 37 (also reproduced from 
Merriam) are practically confined to the Pacific Slope. East of the 
Sierra Nevada, Cascade, and San Bernardino Ranges the zone with a 
normal for the hottest 6 weeks of above 79° F. (26° C.) corresponds 
well with that of the Merriam summation above 18,000 (F.) or 10,000 
(C.) ; the zone characterized by a 6-weeks normal of from 72° F. (22° 
C.) to 79° F. (26° C.) corresponds with that having a summation of 
from 11,500 (F.) or 6,300 (C.) to 18,000 (F.) or 10,000 (C); the zone 
with a 6-weeks normal of from 64° F. (18° C.) to 72° F. (22° C.) corre- 
sponds to that with a summation from 10,000 (F.) or 5,500 (C), to 
11,500 (F.) or 6,400 (C.) ; and a similar correspondence is noted between 
the zone having a 6-weeks normal below 64° F. (18° C.) and that with 
a summation of less than 10,000 (F.) or 5,500 (C). On the Pacific 
Slope, however, no such series of comparisons can be instituted. While 
the coldest zone of the summation chart does not appear at all on the 
Pacific Slope of the United States, the zone of the 6-weeks normals, 
which corresponds to this elsewhere, occupies the whole coast as far 
south as Los Angeles. Furthermore, the next to the coldest zone of 
normals extends much farther westward and southward in the region 
under discussion than does the corresponding zone of summations; the 
former occupies the coastal area west of the San Bernardino and San 
Jacinto Mountains, south of Los Angeles. Merriam has drawn im- 
portant conclusions from these differences, bearing upon the delimitation 
of his life-zones, a matter which will receive some attention in Part III 
of the present publication. 

(J) NORMAL MEAN ANNUAL TEMPERATURE. (PLATE 45.) 

The normal mean annual temperature is commonly employed by 
climatologists for comparing climatic temperature intensities, and it 



P! ATF 45 



243 




To those 

Young in years 

Or, young in heart 

Who aspire to 

Kindliness without ostentation, 

Gentleness without servility, 

This book is 

EespectfuUy dedicated. 



12 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

AND THEIR ANIMAL FRIENDS 



HEROES. 

Mother Earth, are the heroes dead ? 

Do they thrill the soul of the years no more ? 
Are the gleaming snows and the poppies red 

All that is left of th« brave of yore ? 

Are there none to fight as Theseus fought, 

Far in the young world's misty dawn ? 
Or teach as gray-haired Xestor taught? 

Mother Earth, are the heroes gone ? 

Gone? In a grander form they rise. 

Dead ? We may clasp their hands in ours, 
And catch the light of their clearer eyes, 

And wreathe their brows with immortal flowers. 
^Yhere'er a noble deed is done, 

'Tis the pulse of a hero's heart is stirred ; 
\Yherever Eight has a triumph won, 

There are the heroes' voices heard. 

Their armor rings on a fairer fi^ld 

Than the Greek and the Trojan fiercely trod ; 

For Freedom's vsword is the blade they wield. 
And the gleam above is the smile of God. 
13 



14 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

So in his isle of calm delight, 

Jason nia}^ sleep the years away; 
For the heroes live, and the sky is bright, 

And the world is a braver world today. 

— Edna Dean Proctor. 



WHAT ARE BANDS OF MERCY? 

Bands of Mercy are societies of children who promise to be 
kind to animals and to each other. They started only twenty-five 
years ago, and yet they have spread all over the country and 
have a large membership. 

They are organized in Sunday schools of all religious beliefs, 
and in a great many public schools, not only in this country, but 
in many others. In England, the Eoyal Society was under the 
patronage of Queen Victoria, and its president was one of the 
Queen's trusted friends and counselors. 

In Germany, one society contains twenty-three generals and 
over two hundred lesser officers in the German army. There .are 
said to be over 68,000 Bands of Mercy in the United States and 
British America, with a membership of over two million boys 
and girls. 

These societies are formed because it is easier to teach chil- 
dren when they are young to be kind to animals and to one 
another, than it is after they grow up, and their habits become 
fixed. Very often a few words of appeal, or a little story, will 
move with pity the heart of a child, so that all its after life will 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 15 

l)e filled with deeds of kindness and love. It is easy to form a 
Band of Mercy. The children sign this pledge : 

^'I will try to be kind to all living creatures, and to protect 
them from cruel usage/' 

Then they elect a president and secretary and hold their 
meetings, which are made interesting by readings, recitations 
and songs. 

About sixty years ago in a little country school house nestled 
among the bleak hills of New Hampshire, there was a young 
lady teacher, who had a heart large and tender enough to care 
for all of God's creatures. There were no Bands of Mercy 
then by that name, but she really had one in her school for she 
taught her scholars that God expected them to be kind to all 
liis creatures. 

No doubt many of her scholars remembered her words 
all their lives, and were kind and gentle by reason of her 
teaching. But there was one little boy who had a big generous 
lieart, and who never forgot her words. "When he grew to be 
a young man, he decided to go West, like many others, to seek 
his fortune. He went to Chicago. He was honest, hard working 
and faithful to his employers, and in time went into business 
for himself. When he became wealthy, he did not forget the 
words of his teacher and became one of the organizers of a 
society to prevent cruelty. 

He was elected state senator and helped to pass laws for the 
punishment of men who are cruel to animals. He gave his 
time and money to help along the work as long as he lived. 



16 HEEOES AND GEEATHEARTS 

It all began with the words of the teacher who taught him when 
a little boy to be kind. This is what the Bands of Mercy do. 
I^ow there is a great army of boys and girls growing up who 
are ever ready to protect the weak and helpless, whether man or 
beast. 

WHAT THE SPARROWS SAY. 

I am only a little sparrow, 

A bird of low degree ; 
My life is of little value, 

But the dear Lord cares for me. 

He gave me a coat of feathers; 

It is very plain, I know, 
With never a speck of crimson, 

For it was not made for show. 

But it keeps me warm in winter. 

And shields me from the rain ; 
Were it bordered in gold and purple. 

Perhaps it would make me vain. 

I have no barn nor storehouse, 

I neither sow nor reap ; 
God gives me a sparrow's fortune, 

But never a seed to keep. 

If my meal is sometimes scanty, 
Close picking makes it sweet. 



J 



HEEOES AND GEEATHEAETS 17 

I have always enough to keep me, 
And "Life is more than meat/' 

I know there are man}^ sparrows, 

All over the world we are found, 
But the Heavenly Father knoweth 

When one of us falls to the ground. 

Though small we are never forgotten, 

Though weak we are never afraid, — 
For we know our dear Lord keepeth 

The life of the creatures He made. 

I fly through the thickest forest; 

I light on many a spray; 
I have no chart nor compass. 

But I never lose my way. 

And I fold my wings at twilight, 

Wherever I happen to be, 
For the Father is always watching, 

And no harm can come to me. 

I am only a little sparrow. 

But I know that wherever I fly, 
The Father will guard and watch me. 

Have you less faith than I ? 

— Author Unknown, 




y^J 



AP.RATiAM LINCOLN St. Oatiden's statue 



HEROES AND GREATIJEARTS 19 

LINCOLN AND THE BIRDS AND KITTENS. 

Every boy and girl has heard of Abraham Lincoln, who wrote 
the words that made free four millions of slaves. We celebrate 
his birthday now, and every year the memory of his life and 
deeds seems to grow dearer to the whole world. 

Before Mr. Lincoln was elected President of the United States 
he was a lawyer in the central part of Illinois. In those days 
the settlements were far apart, and the wide prairies were cov- 
ered by wild grass and flowers, for there were few farms and 
fences, and the roads were often so muddy they could not be 
used. 

There were few people in any one county, and the towns 
were too small for each to keep a lawyer busy, and so the lawyers 
would travel from one county to another to attend the different 
courts and to try their cases. 

On account of bad roads, they generally went on horseback 
so that they could pick their way better, and as the distances 
between the different towns were long, they used to travel to- 
gether, perhaps five or six at a time. If you could hear the 
stories they told, and the jokes they made, you would laugh till 
your sides ached, for nearly all the law}'ers of those days were 
great story tellers. Lincoln, himself, was one of the best, and 
when he became President and the terrible Civil War seemed 
almost to crush his spirits, he seemed to find relief in telling 
a funny story. 

On one of those journeys before he became President, he was 
riding on horseback with several of his fellow lawyers, when 



20 HEEOES AND GEEATHEAETS 

they noticed he lagged behind them, and then he turned his 
horse and went back some distance, and got off his horse, and 
seemed to pick something from the ground. After awhile he 
mounted his horse and overtook his friends and they asked him 
what he went back for. 

Mr. Lincoln told them he had seen two little birds that had 
fallen from their nest, and were trying to get back to it. At 
first he went on, but his mind could not rest, and he could not 
feel right, until he had gone back and put them back in their 
nest. 

On another of those journeys, he saw a pig which had waded 
in a miry slough and was stuck in the mud. The more it strug- 
gled the deeper it sank. Mr. Lincoln had a new suit of clothes 
and of course did not like to get them soiled, and went on. But 
he could not get the poor pig, struggling in vain for its life, 
out of his mind, so he went back and helped the pig out of the 
mud, although he soiled his new clothes badly. 

These were little things to do, but it is such little things 
that show what men are, and what boys and girls are. 

After Mr. Lincoln became President, and during the Civil 
War, he visited General Grant at his headquarters, where the 
Union army was encamped. It was at a time when it seemed 
as if he would break down from his great burden of care and 
labor, and those who knew him pitied him when they saw his 
sad hollow e3'es and anxious face. When he came to General 
Grant's tent, there were three little kittens that had lost their 
mother, and were crawling about the tent mewing in the most 



HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 21 

piteous manner. Mr. Lincoln picked them up, put them on his 
lap, and stroked their soft fur, and said: 

"Poor little creatures, you'll be taken good care of.'^ 

And turning to an officer said, "Colonel, I hope you will see 
that these motherless little waifs are given plenty of milk and 
treated kindly.'^ 

The" officer replied, "I will see, Mr. President, that they are 
taken in charge by the cook of our mess, and well cared for." 

Several times afterward, during his stay at the camp, he was 
seen fondling those kittens. It was a strange sight to see the 
President of the United States and the commander-in-chief of 
the great Union army, petting little kittens, at a time when he 
was carrying a burden of care, enough to crush any man. This 
little act showed the kindness of his nature better than any 
words could describe, and no wonder that we love and reverence 
his name and memory. 

Kind hearts, and helpful spirits such as Mr. Lincoln had, 
which did not overlook even the little birds and kittens, bring 
joy and gladness to the world. 

THE BIRDS' PICNIC. 

The birds gave a picnic, the morning was fine. 
They all came in couples, to chat and to dine ; 
Miss Eobin, Miss Wren and the two Misses Jay, 
Were dressed in a manner decidedly gay. 

And bluebird,^ who looks like a handful of sky, 
Dropped in with her spouse, as the morning wore by; 



22 HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 

The yellow-birds, too, wee bundles of suii, 
With the brave chickadees, came along to the fun. 

Miss Phoebe was there, in her prim suit of brown ; 
In fact, all the birds in the fair leafy town. 
The neighbors, of course, were politely invited ; 
Xot even the ants and the crickets were slighted. 

The grasshoppers came— some in gray, some in green, 
And covered with dust, hardly fit to be seen : 
Little Miss Miller flew in with her gown white as milk ; 
And Lady Bug flourished in a new crimson silk. 

The bees turned out lively, the young and the old, 
And proud as could be, in their spencers of gold; . 
But Miss Caterpillar, how funny of her. 
She hurried along in her mantle of fur ! 

There were big bugs in plenty, and gnats great and small, — 

A very hard matter to mention them all. 

And what did they do ? Why they sported and sang, 

Till all the green wood with their melody rang. 

Whoe'er gave a picnic so grand and so gay? 
They hadn't a shower, I'm happy to say. 
And when the sun fell, like a cherry-ripe red. 
The fire-flies lighted them all home to bed. 

— Selected. 




GEN. ULYSSES S. GRANT 



24 HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 

GENERAL GRANT AND HIS BRAVE HORSE. 

General Ulysses S. Grant was one of the bravest soldiers who 
ever lived. Yet, he did not like war, but did all in his power to 
end it as soon as possible. Like almost every great and brave 
man, he had a kind heart. One of his staff officers who was 
close to him during the Civil War, said that he never saw him 
terribly enraged but once. That was when he saw one of his 
soldiers abusing his mule. He gave that soldier a scolding he 
would never forget. This act of his, taking the part of the poor 
mule, w^hen he had the command and care of a great army on 
his mind, tells us more than any words how he loved and cared 
for animals. 

When he was a boy, he was sent to West Point, where the 
government has a great school to train young men to be soldiers. 
He was noted even then for his horsemanship. Xo horse was 
too wild for him to tame, yet sometimes he made the horse feel 
that he was not only his master but his friend. This skill in 
riding horses came into use afterward, when he became a great 
general. It saved him at one time from being taken as a pris- 
oner of war. 

After the Battle of Belmont, near the banks of the Missis- 
sippi river, Grant and his men Avere chased by the Con- 
federates toward the river. They had to get down to some 
large boats which lay in the river, in order to escape. General 
Grant was the last man, and when he came up to the brink of 
the river, the last boat was just starting, when the captain hap- 
pened to look up and saw General Grant on his horse, who had 
just galloped up to the edge of the bank. 



HEROES AND GEEATHEAKTS 25 

The captain signalled the engineer to stop the boat, and then 
they threw out a plank. General Grant did not have a minute to 
lose, and the horse seemed to know this as well as his master. 
The bank was high and very steep but the horse pnt his front 
feet over the edge, gathered his hind legs nnder him and just 
slid down with General Grant on his back. When he got down 
to the bottom, he saw the plank, and trotted into the boat, 
although it was nothing but a single plank. 

How well must the horse and General Grant have known each 
other! Such an act could not have been done unless each had 
perfect trust and confidence in the other. No one can tell how 
much we owe to that brave act of the horse, for if General Grant 
had been taken a prisoner or killed at that time, it might have 
changed the history of our country. 

OVER IN THE MEADOW. 

Over in the meadow. 
In the sand, in the sun, 
Lived an old mother toad 
And her little toadie one. 
"Wink," said the mother; 
"I wink," said the one ; 
So she winked and she blinked 
In the sand, in the sun. 

Over in the meadow. 
Where the stream runs blue. 



26 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

Lived an old mother fish 
And her little fishes two. 
"Swim/' said the mother ; 
"We swim/' said the two ; 
So they swam and they leaped 
Where the stream runs blue. 

Over in the meadow, 
In a hole in a tree, 
Lived a mother blue-bird 
And her little birdies three. 
"Sing," said the mother ; 
"We sing," said the three; 
So they sang and were glad. 
In the hole in the tree. 

Over in the meadow, 

In the reeds on the shore. 

Lived a mother muskrat 

And her little rattles four. 

"Dive," said the mother ; 

"We dive," said the four : 

So they dived and they burrowed 

In the reeds on the shore. 

x^ Over in the meadow, 

/ In a snug beehive, 

Lived a mother honev bee 



28 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

And her little honeys five. 

"Buzz/'' said the mother ; 

"We buzz/' said the five; 

So they buzzed and they hnmmed 

In the snng beehive. 

Over in the meadow, 
In a nest built of sticks, 
Lived a black mother crow 
And her little crows six. 
"Caw/' said the mother; 
"We caw%" said the six; 
So they cawed and they called 
In their nest built of sticks. 

Over in the meadow, 
Where the grass is so even. 
Lived a gay mother cricket 
■And her little crickets seven. 
"Chirp," said the mother; 
"We chirp," said the seven; 
So they chirped cheery notes 
In the grass soft and even. 

Over in the meadow, 
/ By the old mossy gate, 

/ Lived a brown mother-lizard 

/ And her little lizards eight. 



s 

HEEOES AND GEEATHEAETS 29 



"Bask/^ said the mother; 
"We bask/^ said the eight; 
So they basked in the sun 
On the old mossy gate. 

Over in the meadow, 

Where the clear pools shine, 

Lived a green mother-frog 

And her little froggies nine. 

"Croak/' said the mother; 

"We croak/' said the nine ; 

So they croaked and they splashed, 

Where the clear pools shine. 

Over in the meadow, 
In a sly little den, 
Lived a gray mother spider 
And her little spiders ten. 
"Spin/' said the mother; 
"We spin," said the ten; 
So they spun lace webs 
In their sly little den. 

Over in the meadow, 
In the soft summer even. 
Lived a mother fire-fly 
And her little flies eleven. 
"Shine," said the mother ; 



30 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

"We shine/'" said the eleven ; 
So they shone like stars 
In the soft summer even. 

Over in the meadow, 
Where the men dig and delve. 
Lived a wise mother ant 
And her little anties twelve. 
"Toil," said the mother; 
"We toil,'' said the twelve; 
So they toiled, and were wise, 
Where the men dig and delve. 

— Olive A. Wadsworth. 



GENERAL SHERIDAN AND HIS HORSE. 

General Phil. Sheridan was the most brilliant cavalry leader 
in the Union army during the Civil War. One of the most 
famous battles in which he took part was that which was immor- 
talized by the poem entitled "Sheridan^s Eide." 

The brave horse that Sheridan rode in that battle, he rode 
in all the raids and battles in which he took part, until the end 
of the war. The horse was named "Black Horse," for he was 
as black as a crow, and at the time of "Sheridan's ride" was 
about five years old. 

About eleven years after the war. General Sheridan wrote a 
letter toa friend of his, and said that the horse was then nineteen 
years old, and that he would be well taken care of as long as he 



1 




GEN. P. H. SHERIDAN 



32 HEEOES AND GEEATHEAETS 

lived. The horse died when he was twenty-one years old, and his 
bones are kept in a glass case in a Museum near Kew York city, 
where often, on Memorial day, some of Sheridan's old soldiers 
go and place flowers on the case. 

Although General Sheridan was a man of quick temper, yet 
he was kind and gentle to his horse, for he could control him 
by a few words, so that under fire, he was as cool and quiet as 
one of the General's old soldiers. 

So the brave and dashing commander has left an example to 
all the boys in the country, and indeed to all the boys in the 
world, to be kind to animals. 

BEN HAZZAED-'S GUESTS. 

Ben Hazzard's hut was smoky and cold, 
Ben Hazzard, half blind, was black and old. 
And he cobbled shoes for his scanty gold. 
Sometimes he sighed for a larger store 
.Wherewith to bless the wandering poor; 
For he was not wise in worldly lore, 
The poor were Christ's ; he knew no more. 
'Twas very little that Ben could do. 
But he pegged his prayers in many a shoe,' 
xlnd only himself and the dear Lord knew. 
Meanwhile he must cobble with all his might 
Till,'tlie Lord knew when — it would all be right. 
For he walked by faith, and not by sight. 
One night a cry from the window came — 



HEKOES AND GREATHEARTS 33 

Ben Hazzard was sleepy, and tired, and lame — 

"Ben Hazzard, open,'' it seemed to say, 

"Give shelter and food, I humbly pray." 

Ben Hazzard lifted his woolly head 

To listen. " 'Tis awful cold/' he said, 

And his old bones shook in his ragged bed, 

"But the wanderer must be comforted." 

Out from his straw he painfully crept, 

And over the frosty floor he stepped, 

While under the door the snow wreaths swept. 

''Come in, in the name of the Lord," he cried, 

As he opened the door, and held it wide. 

A niill'-white I'itten was all he spied. 

Trembling and crying there at his feet, 

Ready to die in the bitter sleet. 

Ben Hazzard, amazed, stared up and down ; 

The candles were out in all the town ; 

The stout house-doors were carefully shut. 

Safe bolted were all but old Ben's hut. 

''/ thought that somebody called,'' he said; 

"Some dream or other got into my head; 

Come, then, poor pussy, and share my bed/^ 

But first he sought for a rusty cup, 

And gave his guest a generous sup. 

Then out from the storm, the wind and the sleet. 

Puss joyfully lay at old Ben's feet; 

Truly, it was a terrible storm, 



34 HEEOES AND GKEATHEARTH 



Ben feared he should never more be warm. \ 

Bnt just as he began to be dozy, i 

And puss was purring soft and cozy, I 

A voice called faintly before his door: j 

"Ben Hazzard, Ben Hazzard, help I implore! \ 

Give drink, and a crust from out your store." j 

Ben Hazzard opened his sleepy eyes, ' 

And his full-moon face showed great surprise. ' 
Out from his bed he stumbled again, 

Teeth chattering with neuralgia pain i 
Caught at the door in the frozen rain. 
''Come in, in the name of the Lord'' he said, 

'^With such as I have thou shalt be fed."' i 

Only a 'little hlaclc dog he saw | 

Whining and shaking a broken paw. j 
^^Well, well,'' cried Ben Hazzard, "I must have dreamed ;" 

But verily like a voice it seemed. j 
"Poor creature/' he added, with husky tone. 

His feet so cold they seemed like stone, ; 

"Thou shalt have the whole of my marrow-bone." 1 

He went to the cupboard and took from the shelf ■ 

The bone he had saved for his very self. \ 

Then, after binding the broken paw, \ 

Half d^ad with cold went back to his straw. ; 

Tinder the ancient blue bedquilt he crept, ; 

His conscience was white, and again he slept. ; 
But again a voice called, both loud and clear : 



HEKOES AND GREATHEARTS 35 

''Ben Hazzard, for Christ's sweet sake come here!'' 
Once more he stood at the open door, 
And looked abroad, as he looked before. 
This time, full sure, 'twas a voice he heard; 
But all that he saw was a storm tossed bird 
With weary pinion and beaten crest, 
And a red blood-stain on its snowy breast. 
''Come in, in the name of the Lord," he said. 
Tenderly raising the drooping head. 
And, tearing his tattered robe apart. 
Laid the cold bird on his own luarm heart. 



The sunrise flashed on the snowy thatch, 

As an angel lifted the wooden latch. 

Ben woke in a flood of golden light, 

And knew the voice that had called all night, 

And steadfastly gazing, without a word, 

Beheld the messenger from the Lord. 

He said to Ben with a wondrous smile, 

[The three guests sleeping all the while], 

"Thrice happy is he that hJesseth the poor. 

The humblest creatures that sought thy door. 

For Christ's sweet sake thou hast comforted." 

''Nay, 'twas not much,'' Ben humbly said. 

With a rueful shake of his old gray head. 

"Who giveth all of his scanty store 

In Christ's dear name, can do no more. 



30 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

BeJioId the Master, who waiteth for thee, 

Saith: 'Giving to them, thou hast given to me/'' 

Then, with heaven's light on his face, "Amen! 

I come in the name of the Lord," said Ben. 

''Frozen to death/' the watchman said, 

When at last he foimd him in his bed, 

AVith a smile on his face so strange and bright; 

He wondex^ed what old Ben saw that night. 

Ben's lips were silent, and never told 

He had gone up higher to find his gold. 

— Anna P. Marshall. 

GENERAL LEE AND HIS HORSE "TRAVELER." 

General Robert E. Lee was the great leader of the Confederate 
army during tlie Civil War. He followed his duty as he saw it, 
and no one could have given his cause better service than he. 
He was handsome, gallant, and of such a kindly nature, that 
wherever he went, he made friends. A lady who knew him, said 
of him : 

"Everybody and everything loves him — ^his family, his friends, 
his servants, his horses and his dog." 

He was intensely fond of animals. He was in the Mexican 
Vv^ar and had with him a favorite dog named "Spec." He wrote 
to his wife, "I am very solitary, and my only company is my 
dog and cats. But Spec has become so jealous now that he will 
hardly let me look at the cats. He seems to be afraid that I am 
going off from him, and never Jets me stir without him; lies 




GEN. ROBERT E. LEE 



38 . HEKOES AND GREATHEARTS 

down in the office from eight to four without moving, turns him- 
self before the fire as the side from it becomes cold. I catch him 
sometimes sitting up looking at me so intently that I am for the 
moment startled/' 

"Grace Darling w^as a chestnut colored mare of fine size and 
great power, which came from Texas. She was with him during 
all the Mexican War and was shot seven times. General Lee was 
much attached to and proud of her, always petting and talking 
to her in an affectionate way when he rode or visited her in the 
stable.^' 

He rode all through the Civil War a famous horse, named 
"Traveler," which after the war he described to his daughter, 
and the description showed that he had a nature capable of 
kindly affection and companionship for every creature around 
him. 

This is how he described "Traveler" to his artist daughter : 

"If I were an artist like you, I would draw a true picture of 
^Traveler,' representing his fine proportions, muscular figure, 
deep chest and short back, strong haunches, flat legs, small head, 
broad forehead, delicate ears, quick eye, small feet, and black 
mane and tail. Such a picture would inspire a poet, whose 
genius could depict his worth, and describe his endurance of toils^ 
hunger, thirst, heat, cold and the dangers and sufferings through 
which he passed. He would dilate upon his sagacity, affection 
and his invariable response to every wish of his rider. He might 
even imagine his thoughts through the long night marches and 
days of battle through which he passed. But I am no artist, and 
can only say that he is a Confederate gray. 



40 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

I purchased him in the mountains of Virginia in the autumn of 
1861 and he has been my patient follower ever since, to Georgia, 
the Carolinas and back to Virginia. He carried me through the 
seven da3^s' battles around Eichmond, the second Manasses, at 
Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, the last day at Chancellorsville, to 
Pennsylvania, at Gettysburg and back to the Eappahannock. 
From the commencement of the campaign of 1864 at Orange, till 
its close around Petersburg, the saddle was scarcely off his back, 
as he passed through the Wilderness, Spotts3dvania, Cold Harbor, 
and across the James river. He was almost in daily requisition 
in the winter of 1864-5 on the long line of defenses from the 
Chickahominy, north of Eichmond, and Hatcher's Eun, south 
of the Appomattox Court House. 

"You must know the comfort he is to me in my present re- 
tirement." 

General Lee had a great affection for this horse, which lived 
for six years after the close of the war. 

Thus this brave man showed his affection for the dumb crea- 
tures whom he made his companions and friends. 



HEEOES AND GEEATHEARTS 41 

THE BROWN THRUSH. 

There's a merry brown thrush sitting up in the tree, 

"He's singing to me; He's singing to me!" 

And what does he say, little girl, little boy? 

"Oh, the world's running over with joy ! 

Don't you hear ? Don't you see ? 

Hush ! Look ! In my tree, 

I'm as happy as happy can be !" 

And the brown thrush kept singing, 

"A nest do 3^ou see 

And iive eggs hid by me in the juniper tree ? 

Don't meddle ! Don't touch ! Little girl, little boy. 

Or the world will lose some of its joy. 

Now I'm glad ! now I'm free ! 

And I always shall be. 

If you never bring sorrow to me." 

So the merry brown thrush sings away in the tree 

To you and to me, to you and to me. 

And he sings all the day, little girl, little boy, 

Oh, the world's running over with joy ! 

But long it won't be, 

Don't you know, don't you see ? 

Unless we are as good as can be." 

— Lucy Larcom. 




GEN. GEOEGE A. CUSTER 



HEROES AND GEEATHEAKTS 43 

GENERAL CUSTER AND HIS HORSES. 

I suppose almost every boy has heard or read something of 
General Custer, the great Indian fighter, who became so famous 
in the Union army during the Civil War. He was a commander 
of soldiers who ride horses, and are called cavalry. 

Many of the soldiers became very fond of their horses, who 
shared their dangers and hardships. General Custer was one of 
the bravest officers in the army. He seemed to be fond of making 
dashing charges on the enemy as if he did not care for his life. 
But like most brave men, he had a kind heart. 

After he died, his wife wrote a book called ''Boots and Sad- 
dles," which you can read sometime, and which tells about what 
he did when he was in the army. This is what she says of her 
husband. General Custer: ''With his own horses, he needed 
neither spur nor whip. They were such friends of his, and his 
voice seemed so attuned to their natures, they knew as well by 
its inflections, as by the slight pressure of the bridle on their 
necks what he wanted. By the merest inclination on the Gen- 
eral's part, they either sped on the wings of the wind, or adapted 
their spirited steps to the slow movement of the march. It was 
a delight to see them together, they were so in unison, and when 
he talked to them, as though they had been human beings, their 
intelligent eyes seemed to reply. 

"As an example of his horsemanship, he had a way of escaping 
from the stagnation of the dull march, when it was not danger- 
ous to do so, by riding a short distance in advance of the column 
over a divide, throwing himself on one side of his horse, so as 



44 HEEOES AND GKEATHEAETS 

to be entirely out of sight from the other direction, giving a sig- 
nal that the animal understood and tearing off at the best speed 
that could be made. The horse entered into the frolic with all 
the zest of his master, and after the race the animal's beautiful 
distended nostrils glowed blood red as he tossed his head and 
danced with delight/' 



PEAYER FOE DUMB CEEATUEES. 

Maker of earth, and sea, and sky. 

Creation's Lord and King, 
Who hung the starry worlds on high. 

And formed alike the sparrow's wing: 
Bless the dumb creatures of thy care, 

And listen to their voiceless prayer. 

For us they live, for us they die. 

These humble creatures Thou hast made; 
How shall we dare their rights deny, 
On whom Thy seal of love is laid? 
Teach Thou our hearts to hear their plea 
As Thou dost man's prayer to Thee. 

—Prof. G. E. Goodrich, 
A distinguished professor in the University of Vermont. 













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THE WATERING TROUGH From painting hy 

Bouveret 



46 HEKOES AND GKEATHEARTS 

THE WATEEING TROUGH. 

The sun was scorching like the simoon s breath ; 

Tired horses toiled along the bnsy street ; 
Patient and faithful, with no goal but death, 

With parching tongues, and weary, aching feet. 

Dogs panted as they ran, and looked in vain 
For cooling water, by which all things live; 

What God sends freely in refreshing rain, 
A Christian city had forgot to give. 

"What can I do for good unto the least?" 
A woman mused, that sultry afternoon : 

''Water unto the thirsty, man and beast,'" 

Whispered a voice, "would be the greatest boon.'' 

A simple trough was made; beside it stood 
A new tin cup that glistened in the sun ; 

A trifling act it seemed, and yet the good 

Could not be measured when the year was done. 

Day after day, from morning until night, 

The thankful horses never passed it by; 
To her who gave it, ever a delight ; 

For what is life, but constant ministry? 

/ ' ■ 

/ 

The trough will do its work for years to come ; 
T1ie worn tin cup its blessed use will show; 



HEKOES AND GEEATHEAETS 47 

Others will build for creatures poor and dumb ; 
Who helps the world has made his Heaven below. 

— Sarah K. Bolton. 

QUEEN VICTORIA. 

No other queen who ever lived exerted such an influence for 
good as this noble woman. As a daughter, wife and mother, she 
set an example to all the women of the world, which will not 
soon be forgotten. 

When she was a little child, her tutor wrote of her: "She 
is very good-tempered and ver}- affectionate, and almost cries at 
any little account of distress which her little books relate. She 
is much pleased with stories of kindness to animals, and shows 
the marks of a tender disposition." 

A little later when she was a small girl, she was once standing 
at one of the front windows of Kensington Palace, when she 
noticed some distance away an old man standing under one of 
the trees, being soaked with rain. She said to her attendant: 

"Eun to that poor man with an umbrella ; he is very old, and 
will catch cold." 

This was a little thing to do, but it showed how her kindly 
nature went out, not only to sympathize with, but to help those 
in need. 

When she became queen, and was burdened with incessant 
care and labor, she did not forget those who were poor and 
unfortunate. She visited the families of those in her service, 
and at Christmas time she gathered the aged and infirm together 




QUEEN VICTORIA 



HEROES AND GEEATHEAETS 49 

and gave each a present from her own hands. She had some- 
times as many as three hundred servants and they all received 
Christmas presents from her. 

It is not strange that she was kind to animals. When she 
took her walks, she always had two or three dogs with her. 
Among her favorite dogs were Scotch collies, German Badger- 
hounds, Scotch terriers, Eussian sheep dogs, Italian spitzes, pug 
dogs and English terriers. She had beautiful horses, and they 
had the best of care. She would not allow them to be high 
checked, nor their e^^es injured by blinders. 

The first Society to promote kindness to animals was begun 
in England in 1832. .By command of the Queen the Society 
was called "The Eoyal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to 
Animals.'' Queen Victoria was a member for sixty years, and 
was always ready to assist it by her counsel, influence and gifts. 
Her example caused some of the richest and most honored men 
and women in England to take an active interest in the Society 
and its work. This noble woman set a fine example to all the 
women of her country and indeed of the world to be kind and 
helpful to all who need help, whether man or beast. 



50 HEEOES AND GREATHEAETS 

THE BUTTERFLY. 

The pretty little butterfly 

We know by God was made; 
And spots and streaks of various dye 

Upon his wings are laid. 

He made those wings and it can rise 

Far, far above my head ; 
And he has taught it how to know 

On what it may be fed. 

Not all the men in all the world 

Can make one if they try ; 
The power belongs to God alone 

To form a butterfly. 

Then surely I should never dare 

To be unkind at all; 
Nor hurt whatever God has made 

Although it be but small. 

— Author Unl:no>iii. 



^■:' 


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QUEEN ALEXANDRA 



52 HEROES AND GEEATHEART8 

QUEEN ALEXANDRA AND MR. AND MRS. ROOSEVELT. 

The most costly feathers which some ladies like to wear on 
their hats are called "egrets/^ and are taken from a beaiitifnl 
bird called the white heron, which is found in South America, 
Florida and other warm countries. These egrets are taken from 
the mother birds while they are caring for their young ones, and 
when they are killed the young birds starve to deatli. 

At one feather sale in London in 1906, it is said there were 
72,000 of these egrets offered for sale, which means that 72,000 
mother birds were killed, and 72,000 nests destroyed, which 
would probably average at least three birds each, thus causing 
the death of 216,000 young birds to furnish feathers for that 
single sale. 

Queen Alexandra of England will not wear these egrets her- 
self, and says that she will do all in her power to discourage 
the cruelty practiced on those l^eautiful birds. 

Mr. Eoosevelt wrote as follows to the president of the 
Audubon Society : "Mrs. Eoosevelt and myself sympathize par- 
ticularly in your efforts to stop the sale and use of the so-called 
^egrets,' the plumes of the white herons." 

Should we not do all we can to follow the example of these 
illustrious people to stop such terrible cruelty to the poor birds? 




THEODORE EOOSEVBLT 



54 HEEOES AND GHEATHEAKTS 

FOUR DOGS. 

There were four clogs one summer day 

AYent out for a morning walk. 
And as they journeyed upon their way 

They began to laugh and talk. 

Said dog N'o. 1, "1 really think 

My master is very wise; 
For he builds great houses, tall and grand, 

That reach clear up to the skies." 

Said dog No. 2 in a scornful tone, 
"Ho ! Ho ! That's wonderful— yes ! " 

But listen to me ! My master writes books, 
He's sold a million, I guess.'' 

Then dog No. 3 tossed his curly head 

And gave a sly little wink. 
"That's nothing to tell ! My master is rich, 

He owns half the world, I think !" 

The fourth little dog had been trotting along 
. With a wise, reflective mind. 

At last, he said, with a happy smile, 
"My master — he is kind !" 



HEKOES AND GEEATHEAKTS 

Xow if your opinion should be asked, 

I wonder what you would say — 
Which dog joaid the sweetest compliment 

To his master on that day? 

— Alice J. Cleator in Pets and Animals. 



THE DTJKE, THE BOY AND THE TOAD. 

The Duke of Wellington was one of the most famous soldiers 
who ever lived. He was called the "Iron Duke" because it 
seemed as if nothing could make him afraid, or cause his heart 
to quail, no matter what dangers surrounded him. It was the 
great life purpose of Napoleon Bonaparte to cross the narrow 
channel which divides France and England, and to invade 
England with his armies and to conquer it. But the Duke of 
Wellington on land with his arni}^, and Lord Xelson (until his 
death) on the water with his battleships, were in the way. 
Finally in the battle of Waterloo, in the year 1815, the great 
French Emperor met his defeat and was sent as a prisoner to 
the lonely island of St. Helena to spend the rest of his life in 
exile. 

The Duke was walking out alone one day when he met a little 
boy crying bitterly. He stopped and asked him what he was 
crying about. The boy said he was going to be sent away to 
school the next day, and said he had a pet toad, and when he 
went away there would be no one to take care of it. The great 
Duke told the little fellow to dry his tears, for he would take 




DUKB or WKLUNOTON 



HEKOES AND GKEATHEAETS 57 

care of the toad. Sure enough, the boy took the toad to the 
Duke's grand residence, and it was carefully looked after. The 
Duke wrote letters to the little boy telling him about the toad. 
Such was the kindness of heart of this great man that he could 
not only take the time and trouble to remove a load of sorroAA- 
from the heart of a little boy, but he could also show kindness 
to a despised toad. What an example for all of us to be kind 
and obliging to all about us. 



He prayeth well who loveth well 

Both man and bird and beast. 
He prayeth best who loveth best 

All things both great and small ; 
For the dear God who loveth us, 

He made and loveth all. 

Samuel Taylor Coleridge 




PRINCE BISMARCK 



HEEOES AND GKEATHEARTS 59 

PRINCE BISMARCK AND HIS DOGS. 

Prince Bismarck was a celebrated Grerman statesman. He 
might be called the maker of the great German Empire, which 
is now one of the most powerful nations in the world. 

He was the means of uniting a number of small countries 
into one, and thus making a united Germany. All Germans 
may well be proud of what he did for their country. This great 
man was sometimes called the man of iron because he was so 
stern and hard to bend, but for all that he had a kind and ten- 
der heart. He was one of the kindest of men to his wife and 
children, and he always had a tender place in his heart for dogs. 
It seemed as if he could not live without them, for when he was 
a student in college, he took an immense dog with him. 

Once when he had done something against the rules of the 
college, he was called before the teacher for correction, and his 
great dog went into the room with him. The teacher was so 
startled at the sight of the immense dog that he got behind a 
chair and would do nothing until the dog was taken out of the 
room. 

All through his life Prince Bismarck had his dogs. Wherever 
he went they went with him. They shared his walks, his rides, 
his business hours, and his meals ; and they kept guard at his 
bedroom at night. We need not say that he loved them and 
treated them kindly; in fact, he made them his friends. 




THE HORSEBACK RIDB 



KEEOES AND GREATHEARTS 61 

THE HORSEBACK RIDE. 

When troubled in spirit, when weary of life, 

When I faint 'neath its burdens, and shrink from its strife. 

When its fruits, turned to ashes, are mocking my taste, 

And its fairest scene seems but a desolate waste, 

Then come ye not near me, my sad heart to cheer 

With friendship's soft accents or sympathy's tear. 

^0 pity I ask, and no counsel 1 need. 

But bring me, oh, luring me my gallant young steed. 

With his high arched neck, and his nostril spread wide, 

His eye full of iire, and his step full of pride ! 

As I spring to his back, -as I seize the strong rein. 

The strength to my spirit returneth again ! 

The bonds are all broken that fettered my mind, 
And my cares l:)orne away on the wings of the wind ; 
My pride lifts its head, for a season bowed down. 
And the queen in my nature now puts on her crown ! 
What a wild thought of triumph, that this girlish hand 
Such a steed in the night of his strength may command ! 

What a glorious creature ! Ah ! glance at him now, 
As I check him awhile on this green hillock's brow ; 
How he tosses his mane, with a shrill, joyous neigh, 
And paws the firm earth in his proud stately play ! 



62 HEBOES AND GREATHEARTS i 

Hurrah ! off again, dashing on as in ire, 

Till the long, flinty pathway is flashing with fire ! j 

Ho ! a ditch ! — shall we pause ? Xo ; the bold leap we dare, i 

Like a swift winged arrow we rush through the air ! ; 

Oh, not all the pleasures that poets may praise, ; 

Xot the Vildering waltz in the ballroom's blaze, < 

Xot the chivalrous joust, nor the daring race, \ 

Nor the swift regatta, nor merry chase, ■ 

Xor the sail, high heaving A^^ters o'er, ' 

Xor the rural dance on the moonlight shore, i 

Can the wild and thrilling joy exceed : 
Of a fearless leap on a fiery steed. 

— Sara Jane Lippencott (Grace G-reenwood). ■ 



Kindness — a language which the dumb can speak, 
and the deaf can understand. 




GROYER CLEVELAND 



64 HEEOES AND GREATHEARTS 

GROVER CLEVELAND AND THE FAWN. 

Grover Cleveland was twice elected President of the United 
States. Before that he was Governor of the great state of New 
York. While he was Governor he once spent his summer vaca- 
tion in a beautiful hotel situated on a little lake in the Adiron- 
dack Mountains. The country was very wild and the woods 
were full of game, and many of the men stopping at the hotel 
were fond of hunting. One day some of these men were out on 
the lake in a boat when a beautiful little fawn, which had been 
separated from its mother in some way, came down to the lake 
and ran in the water and began to swim. The men in the boat 
rowed until they got between the fawn and the shore, and then 
they chased it and soon overtook it. 

They caught it and pulled it into the boat, but the poor 
creature struggled so hard that it slipped away from them into 
the water and tried to escape. But the men followed it again 
and caught it, and carried it alive to the hotel, and said they 
were going to kill it and have it served on the table. But when 
the ladies of the hotel saw the soft, pleading eyes of the beautiful 
creature, trembling for its life, they took pity on it and asked 
that it be given its freedom. The men would not consent, but 
it was finally agreed that the question whether the fawn should 
be left loose should be left to a court to decide. .i 

Then a judge was selected and some one appointed to plead 
for the lawn, and another to take the side against him. The 
speeches were made on both sides and the question was submit- 
ted to the Judge. He decided that it should die and sentence 



HEROES AND GEEATHEAETS 65 

was passed. But the ladies were more determined than ever to 
save the fa"\^Ti's life, and it was at last decided to refer the mat- 
ter to Governor Cleveland, and let him decide whether the fawn 
should die or have a pardon. You know the Governor of a state 
has the right to pardon those who have been found guilty of 
doing some wrong thing, if he sees fit. Governor Cleveland 
granted a pardon to the fawn and it was let loose, and the little 
creature bounded away back again into the woods. Did not this 
show that Governor Cleveland had a kind heart? 



That best portion of a good man's life, 
His little, nameless, unremembered acts 
Of kindness and of love. 

— Wordsworth. 




THE DEER FAMILY 



Landseer 




THE SICK MONKEY 



From painting hy 
Landseer 



68 HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 

THE TRAVELING MONKEY. 

My master grinds an organ 

And I pick up his money. 
And when you see me doing it 

You call it very funny 

But though I dance and caper, still 

I feel at heart forlorn, 
I wish I were in monkey-land, 

The place where I was horn. 

There grows the great green cocoanuts 
Around the palm tree's crown- 

I used to climh and pick them off, 
And hear them — crack! — come down. 

There all day long the purple figs 
Are dropping from the bough; 

There hang the ripe bananas, oh, 
I wish I had some now. 

rd feast, and feast, and feast, and feast. 
And you should have a share. 

How pleasant 'tis in monkey-land 
Oh, would that I were there. 

/ . 

On some tall tree top's highest bough. 
So hisfb the clouds would sail 



HEROES AND GEEATHEAETS 

Just over me, I wish that I 
Were swinging by my tail. 

I^d swing, and swings and swing, and swing, 

How merry that would be. 
But, oh, a traveling monkey's life 

Is very hard for me. 



Marion Douglass. 



GLADSTONE'S PET. 

When you grow older you will hear and read about William 
E. Gladstone, the world-famous English statesman and scholar. 
Like many other great men, Mr. Gladstone was veiy fond of 
pets and very kind to them. Once he was visiting friends in 
Germany and while there a little black dog named Petz became 
so much attached to him that he seemed to think that all that 
^Ir. Gladstone went to Germany for was to play with him. Be- 
fore Mr. Gladstone rose in the morning the little dog would lie 
before the door of his room, waiting for him to come out and 
take a walk. Then Petz was perfectly happy, for Mr. Gladstone 
would throw his cane as far as he could and Petz would run for 
it and bring it back to him. They would keep this up until it 
seemed as if they both would be tired out. 

After awhile it was time for Mr. Gladstone to go back to his 
home in England, for he had a very important office, and was a 




WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE 



HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 71 

very busy man. But he thought so much of the little black dog- 
that he wanted to take him along, and so he arranged with his 
friends and Petz went with him to England. Mr. Gladstone 
lived in a grand house called Hawarden Castle, and there Petz 
became one of the family. Mr. Gladstone was fond of chopping 
down trees for exercise, as he thought it made him strong and 
healthy. 

Of course he could not go out without Petz, who would be 
watching and waiting for his master. When Mr. Gladstone 
would chop a tree, and the chips would fly about, Petz would 
jump for them and then bring them in his mouth and lay them 
at his master's feet, wanting him to throw them as far as lie 
could, so that he could chase them and bring them back. 

An illustrious example of the affection for animals which 
many great and wise men possess. 



OUT IN THE FIELDS WITH aOD. 

The little cares that fretted me, 

I lost them yesterday. 
Among the fields above the sea — 

Among the winds at play ; 



Among the lowing of the herds, 
The rustling of the trees, 

Among the singing of the birds, 
The humming of the bees. 



72 HEBOES AND GBEATHEARTS 

The foolish fears of what may happen 

I cast them all awa}- 
Among the clover-scented grass, 

Among the new-mown hay; 

Among the husking of the corn, 

Where drowsy poppies nod, 
AVhere ill thoughts die and good are born, 

Out in the fields with God. 

— British Weekly. 



DANIEL WEBSTER AND THE WOOD-CHUCK. 

Daniel Webster was one of the most gifted orators and states- 
men that our country has produced. 

Like many other remarkable men, he loved animals. When 
he grew old, he seemed never so happy as when he was among 
his cattle on his farm. When he lay in his bed a little while 
before he died, he wanted his oxen brought before the window, 
so that he could see them once more for the last time. 

Daniel Webster's father had been a brave soldier in the Eevo- 
lutionary Avar, and after the war closed, settled on a farm in the 
state of New Hampshire, where he brought up his family. 
Daniel had a brother named Ezekiel, whom they called "Zeke." 
One day Zeke caught a wood-chuck, and brought it home, in- 
tending to kill it. When Daniel saw the bright black eyes of 




DANIEL WEBSTBB 



74 HEE0E8 AND GEEATHEAKTS 

the little animal, which seemed tx) ask him to take its part, his 
heart was filled with a great pity. He talked with his brother 
and tried to persuade him not to kill it. The two brothers 
could not agree. They asked their father what he thought 
about it. 

Their father said that Zeke should give his reasons why he 
thought the wood-chuck should be killed, and Daniel should give 
his reasons why it should be let loose. The father said he would 
be the judge and decide which reasons were the strongest. Zeke 
then said the wood-chuck stole his living from the clover field 
and cabbage patch, that his skin was valuable and could be used 
to make warm winter caps, that he was of no use to the world 
and ought to be killed. 

Daniel then gave his reasons why the wood-chuck should be 
allowed to live. He said that life was God-given, and that we 
had no right to take it, even from a wood-chuck, unless we were 
obliged to ; and he made such a strong appeal to save the wood- 
chuck's life that his father's heart was touched, and when Daniel 
got through the tears were rolling down his father's cheeks, and 
he said: 

"Zeke, Zeke, let that wood-chuck go." 

In those days there were no Bands of Mercy, but if there had 
been, Daniel would have been one of the first to join. 



HEKOES AND GEEATHEAETS 

THE BLUEBIED. 

I know the song that the bluebird is singing, 
Out in the apple tree where he is swinging ; 
Brave little fellow ! the skies may be dreary ! 
Nothing cares he while his heart is so cheery. 

Hark ! how the music leaps out from his throat ! 
Hark! w^as there ever so merry a note? 
Listen a while and you'll hear what he's saying, 
Up in the apple tree swinging and swaying. 

Dear little blossoms down under the snow. 
You must be weary of winter, I know. 
Hark ! while I sing you a message of cheer ! 
Summer is coming ! and springtime is here ! 

Little white snow-drop ! I pray you arise : 
Bright yellow crocus ! Come, open your eyes ; 
Sweet little violets, hid from the cold, 
Put on your mantels of purple and gold ; 
Daffodils ! daffodils ! say, do you hear ? — 
Summer is coming ! springtime is here ! 

— Emily Huntington Miller. 



76 HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 

DANIEL BOONE AND HIS DOGS. 

About one hundred years ago a large part of our country was 
an unbroken wilderness, full of wild beasts and savage Indians. 
You can imagine hoAv difficult and dangerous it w^as for men to 
go into such a country and try to make homes. And yet there 
were bold hunters who were willing to risk their lives and en- 
dure terrible hardships in order to make the country safe for 
settlers who should come after them with their families. 

Daniel Boone, of Kentucky, was one of the most famous of 
these, and it would fill many books if all his adventures were 
written out. He went into the wilderness alone with his dogs, 
for even there, men must have some company, and the onlv 
companions they could take were their dogs. These dogs would 
help them hunt for food, and they seemed to know where the 
Indians were a great deal better than their masters. 

A writer has said: "We little think how much we owe to 
dogs in the settlement of our country. From the Atlantic to 
the Pacific Ocean, the dog has driven back the wolf, the bear, 
the fox and the panther, to make way for the sheep, the cow 
and the horse. The dog will go everywhere where man goes, to 
hunt for him, fight for him and cheer him in his hours of dis- 
couragement. Many animals show a certain degree of affectior. 
for men, but the dogs more than all, for they will often give 
their lives to save the lives of their masters." 

Let us show kindness and affection to these faithful animals, 



HEEOES AND GREATHEART8 77 

THE ARAB AND HIS FAVORITE STEED. 

My beautiful ! my beautiful ! that standest meekly by, 
With thy proudly arched and glossy neck, and dark and fiery eye, 
Fret not to roam the desert no^v, with all thy winged speed ; 
I may not mount on thee again, — thou'rt sold, my Arab steed ! 
Fret not with that impatient hoof, — snuff not the breezy wind, — 
The farther that thou fiiest now, so far am I behind ; 
The stranger hath thy bridle rein, — thy master hath his gold, — 
Fleet-limbed and beautiful, farewell; thou'rt sold, my steed, 
thou'rt sold. 

Ah ! rudely, then, unseen by me, some cruel hand may chide. 
Till foam-wreaths lie, like crested waves, along thy panting side, 
And the rich blood that's in thee swells, in thy indignant pain, 
Till careless eyes, which rest on thee, may count each starting 

vein. 
Will they ill-use ? If I thought — but no, it cannot be, — 
Thou art so swift, yet easy curbed ; so gentle, yet so free : 
And yet, if haply, when thou'rt gone, my lonely heart shall 

yearn, — 
Can the hand which casts thee from it now command thee to 

return ? 

Return! alas! My Arab steed! what shall thy master do, 
When thou, who wast all his joy, has vanished from his view? 
When the dim distance cheats mine eye, and through the gath- 
ering years 



78 HEUOES AND GEEATHEAKTS 

Thy bright form, for a moment, like the false mirage appears ; 
Slow and unmounted shall I roam, with weary steps alone. 
Where, with fleet step and joyous bound, thou oft hast borne 

me on; 
And sitting down by that green well, I'll pause and sadly think, 
"It was here he bowed his glossy neck when last I saw him 

drink !" 

When last I .saw thee drink ! — Away ! — the fevered dream is 

o'er — 
I could not live a day, and know that we should meet no more ; 
They tempted me, my beautiful ! — for hunger's power is 

strong, — 
They tempted me, my beautiful ! but I have loved too long. 
Who said I have given thee up? who said that thou wast sold? 
'Tis false, — 'tis false, my Arab steed ! I fling them back their 

gold ! 
Thus, thus, I leap upon thy back, and scour the distant plains ; 
Away! who overtakes us now shall claim thee for his pains. 

— Caroline E. Norton. 




SIK EDWIN LANDSEER 



80 HEEOES AND GREATHEAETS 

SIR EDWIN LANDSEER. 

Sir Edwin Landseer was an English artist who became very 
famous as a painter of animals. His father was an artist and 
engraver, and soon as he found out that his little son liked to 
draw pictures, he encouraged him to do it. When the little boy 
was only five years old, he drew the picture of a fox-hound from 
life, and it was such a good picture that it is now kept in South 
Kensington Museum, in London, to be shown to visitors. When 
he was ten years old he drew a beautiful picture of a "Brown 
Mastiff Sleeping,^' and this picture was so fine that it after- 
wards sold for three hundred and fifty dollars. 

He was very quick at his work and this is why he was able to 
paint so many great pictures, which are amongst the finest in the 
world. He painted a splendid picture of a bloodhound in twelve 
hours, and another picture of rabbits in three-quarters of an 
hour. He could draw with both hands at once. 

You may be sure that he was very fond of animals, and espe- 
cially of dogs, and wherever he went he had a troop of dogs with 
him. 

He was a favorite everywhere, from the palace of Queen Vic- 
toria to the humble cottage. He could tell animal stories by 
the hour, and was so kind and pleasant to all about him that he 
made the world brighter wherever he went. 

During his last illness his dog was with him nearly all the 
time. At one time, when a friend called to see him, he hugged 
his dog and said to him : "No one can love me as thou dost.'' 



HEEOES AND GREATHEARTS 81 

LITTLE BROWN HANDS. 

They drive home the cows from the pasture, 

Up through the long shady lane, 
Where the quail whistles loud in the wheat fields, 

That are yellow with the ripening grain. 

They find in the thick, waving grasses, 

Where the scarlet-lipped strawberry grows ; 

They gathered the earliest snowdrops, 
And the first crimson buds of the rose. 

Those who toil bravely are strongest; 

The humble and poor become great ; 
And from these brown-handed children 

Shall grow mighty rulers of state. 

The. pen of the author and statesmen. 

The noble and wise of the land, 
The sword, and the chisel, and palette, 

Shall be held in the little brown hand. 



— Mary H. Krout. ' 



82 HEROES AND GKEATHEARTS 

JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL AND THE ROBINS. 

James Eussell Lowell has taken his place as one of the fore- 
most poets of America. He was not onl}^ a great poet, but one 
of the finest gentlemen America ever produced, and our country 
felt herself honored when she sent him to represent her as 
Minister to England. 

But this great and learned man, like nearly all others, had a 
kind and tender heart, and not only talked Tcindness, but was 
ever ready to help the smallest and humblest of God's creatures, 
by getting them out of trouble. 

When he was professor of literature in Harvard College, he 
lived in a beautiful mansion in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and 
this elegant home was surrounded by large, graceful trees. Once 
he happened to notice a nest of robins high up in one of the 
trees and was puzzled by a constant fluttering of what seemed 
full grown wings, whenever he would go near it. The old birds 
guarded the nest and seemed very much excited when he came 
too near. 

But at last he ascended the tree by a ladder, in spite of the old 
birds who wanted him to keep away, and then he soon found out 
what was the matter. The old birds when building the nest had 
found a long piece of string, which they wove into the nest 
loosely, and three of the young birds had got entangled in it. 
and when they became full grown they were not able to get loose. 

One was not hurt very much, another had twisted the string so 
tightly that one foot was curled up and had become paralyzed, so 
that it could not use it. The other was suffering so badly, because 



HEROES AND GBEATHEARTS 83 

the string had worn through the fleshy that Mr. Lowell thought 
the kindest thing he could do was to kill it and put it out of 
misery. This he did, hurting it as little as possible. He took 
out liis knife and cut the string, and then the old birds seemed 
to understand what he was doing and stopped their cries and 
threats, and perched so near him that he could have touched 
them with his hands, all the time watching him to see what he 
would do. 

The young birds were so frightened that it took him 
some time to get them free from the tangle, but at last one of 
them flew away to a tree that was near. The other, with only 
one good leg, jumped from the nest and spread its wings out 
and tumbled to the ground without hurting itself very much. 
It hopped away on one leg, the old birds being near and ready 
to help it all they could. In about a week Mr. Lowell saw the 
one-legged robin again in good spirits and able to balance itself 
with the lame foot, and no doubt in time it got well. 

Is not that a beautiful picture of a great poet and scholar, 
whom all the world delighted to honor, getting to the top of a 
high tree to set free some young struggling robins from their 
prison? When you read his poetry you can remember his kind 
heart and gentle nature. 

— Adapted from ''Our Dumb Animals/' 




MY HOHSH 



From pmnilng 7)ij 
liofta Jioiihnn 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 85 ] 

I 

TO MY HORSE. j 

With a glancing eye and curving mane 

He neighs and champs on the bridle-rein : 

One spring, and his saddled back I press. 

And ours is a common happiness ! ' 

■ i 

Dark thoughts that haunt me, where are ye now ? i 

While the cleft air gratefully cools my brow, \ 

And the dizzy earth seems rushing by, | 

And naught is at rest but the arching sky : ; 

And the tramp of my steed, so swift and strong, \ 

Is dearer than fame and sweeter than song ! \ 

There is life in the breeze as we hasten on ; [ 

With each bound some care of earth has gone. ■ 

Bound proudly, my steed, nor bound proudly in vain, 

Since thy master is now himself again. 

And thine be the praise when the leech's power ■ 

Is idle, to conquer the darkened hour. ; 

i 
\ 

By the might of the sounding hoof to win . i 

Beauty without and joy within : j 

Beauty also to my eyes unseen, \ 
And joy, that till then had a stranger been. 

— Selected. 



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OABIBAU)! 



HEKOES AND GREATHEAKTS 87 

GAEIBALDI AND THE DROWNING WOMAN. 

In Italy, a group of men were standing on a dock when by ac- 
cident a woman fell into the water. None of the men dared to 
risk their lives in an attempt to save her, and in a few moments 
she would have drowned. 

Just at this time a boy came up and sprang into the water like 
a flash, then he got hold of the woman and kept her from 
going down until stronger arms got hold of her and she was 
saved. The boy was pulled out of the water, too, and did not 
seem to have received any harm from his brave act. 

Everybody wondered how he could be so quick and daring, 
as to risk his life to save a woman he had never seen 
before. The reason was that the instinct of kindness was born 
with him, and was shown in all his after life. 

The boy's name was Garibaldi, and he became afterward one 
of the heroes of the world, and the liberator of his people from 
wrong and oppression. Italy had been ruled for hundreds of 
years by cruel men, who cared only for themselves. 

Most of the people were so poor that they could scarcely live, 
and the taxes were so heavy that it took from them almost their 
last penny. The people had endured this from generation to 
generation because no leader was bold enough to rise up against 
it until Garibaldi came. 

When he became a man he had the same spirit which 
prompted him when a boy to risk his life to save the woman; 
and he determined to devote his life to the freeing of his coun- 
try from oppression. He found a few brave men who felt as he 



88 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

did, and he became the leader of a little band who were willing 
to die, if need be, for their country. To tell what dangers they 
faced, and what wonderful escapes they had, would take days 
and days. It seemed as if God saved their lives time and again, 
for every effort was made to catch and kill them. 

They had scarcely any money to buy supplies of food, clothing 
and ammunition. Often they could not get enough to eat, and 
they suffered greatly from cold. They had no uniforms save 
that all who could, wore red flannel shirts ; but the daring Gari- 
baldi moved about so quickly, and made so many attacks on 
the enemy, that at last after many years of terrible struggle he 
was victorious and became the liberator of his country. 

He was ready to give his life for others, and in that he set us 
a fine example. We shall never be called upon to do what he 
did, but we can have the same spirit of helpfulness that he 
showed all his life. 



90 HEEOES AND GEEATHEAKTS 

WHITTIER AND HIS PETS. 

John Greenleaf Whittier is one of the choicest poets of 
America. The boys especially ought to love him, for one of his 
best poems is entitled, "The Barefoot Boy." 

Mr. Whittier was born on a farm in Massachusetts, and like 
other farmers' boys, he did the chores and worked hard on the 
farm, early and late. 

In those days oxen were often used instead of horses; and 
the oxen with which young Whittier worked, became his pets. 
They were so tame and gentle that he used to sit on their heads 
with his legs hanging over their faces, and then throw himself 
back on their horns and take a rest. 

One day he took a bag of salt to give to the cattle and they 
liked the salt so much that they became very crazy to get it. 
At this time one big ox ran towards him so fast that he could 
not stop himself before knocking the ])oy down, so he gave a 
big leap and jumped over young Whittier's head and probably 
saved his life in doing so. 

When Whittier became a man, he was fonder of pets than 
ever. One day his gardener brought him a squirrel he had 
caught. Mr. Whittier got him a nice cage and it was not long 
before the squirrel was jumping all about the room. It would 
run up Mr. Whittier's back and perch upon his coat collar, and 
look into all his pockets to find nuts, and you may be sure that 
he always found some. 

When Mr. Whittier would take a nap on his couch in the 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 91 

day time, the squirrel would jump up and gnaw the buttons off 
his coat. 

Mr. Whittier also had a pet mocking bird which he called 
David. This bird was a fine singer, and Mr. Whittier was never 
tired of listening to his melody. The favorite perch of this bird 
was on the top of the poet's head, but he did not mind that, for 
he liked David so well that he was quite willing to let him sit 
where he pleased. 

Then he always had a number of cats and dogs, and was fond 
of teaching them tricks. But you could never guess what 
other pet he had. It was a little bantam rooster, which was 
often seen perched on the poet's shoulders, and which liked to 
be buttoned up inside his overcoat. 

He also had a dog which he named "Robin Adair," after a 
beautiful song. Once a famous singer called on him, and he 
asked her to sing for him. She went to the piano and began to 
sing "Robin Adair." The dog was in another room, but when 
he heard his name in the song, he went to the singer and sat 
down at her side. When she had finished he placed his paw in 
her hand and licked her cheek. As long as she was there he was 
with her, indoors and out, and when she went away he carried 
her bag in his mouth to the gate, and seemed distressed to have 
her go. 

And so in many ways this delightful poet showed his kind 
and gentle nature by the love he had for these dumb creatures, 
whom he made his companions and friends. 



92 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

THE BAREFOOT BOY. 

Blessings on thee, little man, 
Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan ! 
With thy turned-up pantaloons, 
And thy merry whistled tunes ; 
With thy red lip, redder still 
Kissed by strawberries on the hill ; 
With the sunshine on thy face, 
Through thy torn brim^s jaunty grace; 
From my heart I give thee joy, — 
I was once a barefoot boy. 

Prince thou art — the grown up man 
Only is republican. 
Let the million-dollared ride ! 
Barefoot, trudging at his side. 
Thou hast more than he can buy 
* In the reach of ear and eye, — 

Outward sunshine, inward joy, — 
Blessings on thee, barefoot boy I 

Oh for boyhood's painless play. 
Sleep that wakes in laughing day. 
Health that mocks the doctor's rules, 
Knowledge never learned at schools. 
Of the wild bee's morning chase. 
Of the wild flower's time and place, 



HEK0E8 AND (iREATHEARTS 93 

Flight of fowl and habitude 
Of the tenants of the wood : 
How the tortoise bears his shell, 
How the woodchuck digs his cell, 
And the groimd-niole sinks his well; 
How the robin feeds her young, 
How the oriole's nest is hung; 
Where the whitest lilies blow, 
Where the freshest berries grow, 
Vriiere the ground-nut trails its vine, 
Where the wood-grapes clusters shine. 
Of the black wasp's cunning way. 
Mason of his walls of clay, 
And the architectural plans 
Of gray hornet artisans : 
For, eschewing books and tasks, 
Xature answers all he asks; 
Hand in hand with her he walks. 
Face to face with her he talks. 
Part and parcel of her joy, — 
Blessings on the barefoot boy ! 

Oh for boyhood's time of June, 
Crowning years in one brief moon, 
When all things I heard or saw, 
Me, their master, waited for. 
I was rich in flowers and trees, 



94 HEBOEiS AND GKEATHEAETS 

Humming birds and honey bees; 
For my sport the squirrel played, 
Plied the snouted mole his spade ; 
For my taste the blackberry cone 
Purpled over hedge and stone ; 
Laughed the brook for my delight 
Through the day and through the night ; 
Whispering at the garden wall, 
Talked with me from fall to fall; 
Mine the sand-rimmed pickerel pond, 
Mine the walnut slopes beyond, 
Mine, on bending orchard trees, 
Apples of Hesperides! 
Still as my horizon grew, 
Larger grew my riches too; 
All the world I saw or knew 
Seemed a complex Chinese toy. 
Fashioned for a barefoot boy ! 

Cheerily, then, my little man, 
Live and laugh, as boyhood can ! 
Though the flinty slopes be hard, 
Stubble-speared the new-mown sward, 
Every morn shall lead thee through 
Fresh baptisms of the dew ; 
Every evening from thy feet 
Shall the cool wind kiss the heat. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 95 

All too soon these feet must hide 
In the prison cells of pride, 
Lose the freedom of the sod, 
Like a colt's for work be shod, 
Made to tread the mills of toil, 
Up and down in ceaseless moil ; 
Happy if their track be found 
Never on forbidden ground ; 
Happy if they sink not in 
Quick and treacherous sands of sin. 
Ah ! that thou couldst know thy joy, 
Ere it passes, barefoot boy ! 

— Jolin GreenJeaf WhiUier. 



THE FAMILY HORSE. 

A^ Duxbury, ]\Iassachusetts, which is not very far from 
Plymouth Rock, may be seen on the seashore, a brick monu- 
me»t eight feet high, surmounted by a large wooden ball. On 
the side facing the sea is a slate on which this inscription is 
carved: 

"All are but paTts of one stupendous whole, 1 

Whose body Nature is, and God the soul." i 

"^ ^ Here lies buried 

Honest Dick, | 

Who 
Faithfully served three generations. 1 



96 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

This noble horse was born upon Powder Point, 
A. D. 1817. 
Here lived and here died, 
A. D. 1846. 
What words can describe the services of such a faithful crea- 
ture? AVhat money could repay them? To funerals, weddings, 
picnics, parties, school, market, year after year, through mud 
and sleet and snow and dust, until age compelled the tired body 
to enter on its long final rest. 

And this brief history could be multiplied by thousands of 
families, all over the land, who have enjoyed the same faithful 
service, but are more forgetful of its inestimable value. 



DAME DUCK'S FIRST LECTURE. 

Old Mother Duck has hatched a brood 
Of ducklings small and callow ; 

Their little wings are short ; their do^vn 
Is mottled gray and yellow. 

Close by the margin of the brook 
The old duck made her nest 

Of straw and leaves and withered grass, 
And down from her own breast. 

And there she sat for four long weeks. 
In rainy days and fine, 



HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 97 

Until the ducklings all came out — 
Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. 

One peeped out from beneath her wing, 

One scrambled on her back ; 
"Thaf s very rude,'^ said old Dame Duck : 

"Get off ! quack, quack, quack, quack !" 

" ^Tis close," said Dame Duck, shoving out 

The egg shells with her bill ; 
"Besides, it never suits young ducks 

To keep them sitting still." 

So rising from her nest, she said, 

"J^ow, children, look at me ; 
A well-bred duck should waddle so. 

From side to side^-d^ye see ?" 

"Yes," said the little ones ; and then 

She went on to explain : 
"A well-bred duck turns in its toes 

As I do — try again." 

"Yes," said the ducklings, waddling on ; 

"That's better," said their mother ; 
"But well-bred ducks walk in a row, 

Straight — one behind another." 



98 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

''Yes/' said the little ducks again. 

All waddling in a row : 
"Now to the pond/' said old Dame Duck — 

Splash, splash, and in they go. 

"Let me swim first/' said old Dame Duck, 

"To this side — now to that ; 
There ! snap at those great brown-winged flies, 

They make young ducklings fat. 

"Now when you reach the poultry yard. 

The hen-wife, Molly Head, 
Will feed you with the other fowls, 

On bran and mashed-up bread ; 

"The hens will peck and fight, but mind, 

I hope that all of you 
Will gobble up the food as fast 
• As well-bred ducks should do. 

"You'd better get into the dish. 

Unless it is too small ; 
In that case I should use my foot. 

And overturn it all." 

The ducklings did as they were bid, 

And found the plan so good. 
That from that day, the other fowls 

Got scarcely any food. 

— Aunt Effie's Rhymes. 




ALBXAMDBB DUMAS 



100 HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 

ALEXANDER DUMAS AND HIS PETS. 

Alexander Dumas was a famous French writer of stories. He 
wrote several books which pleased the people so much that they 
had a very large sale, that made him very rich. He had a 
fine estate in the countr}^, which he named "Monte Cristo/' 
after one of his books. He liked company and loved to have 
people visit him from all parts of the world. 

He was very fond of pets and had some of the strangest that 
you can imagine. Amongst them was an African vulture, a big 
parrot, a pheasant, a rooster, an Angora cat and a very intelli- 
gent Scotch pointer dog. All of these had big names, which 
their master had taught them to know. 

The dog, like his master, also loved company; and he would 
sit out in the road, looking out for passing dogs, which he would 
take to the house, and he kept this up until there were thirteen 
dogs. The gardener then complained to his master, and asked 
him whether he should not whip twelve of the dogs and send 
them away. Mr. Dumas said : 

"You see, when the good God gives us riches, a fine house 
and position, he also imposes charges upon us. Since the dogs, 
which after all are His creatures, too, are in the house, I prefer 
that they stay." 

Was that not a fine spirit which this generous man showed 
when he let even the dogs share his prosperity? 



HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 101 

THE CRY OF THE LITTLE BROTHERS. . 

(The good St. Francis of Assisi called all animals his "little 
l)rothers and sisters/^) 

We are the little brothers, homeless in cold and heat, 
Fonr-footed little iDCggars, roaming the city street. 

Snatching a bone from the gutter, creeping through alleys drear. 
Stoned and sworn at, and beaten, our hearts consumed with fear. 

You pride yourselves on the beauty of your city, fair and free. 
Yet we are dying by thousands in courts you never see. 

You boast of your mental progress, of your libraries, schools and 

halls, 
But we, who are dumb, denounce you, as we crouch beneath their 

walls. 

You sit in your tinseled playhouse, and weep o^er a mimic 

wrong ; 
Our Avoes are the woes of the voiceless, our griefs are unheeded 

in song. 

•You say that the same God made us. When before His throne 

you come, 
Shall you clear yourselves in His presence on the plea that He 

made us duml:* ? 



102 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

Ave your hearts too hard to listen to a starving kitten's cries? 
Or too gay for the patient pleading in a dog's beseeching eyes? 

Behold lis, your "little brothers" — starving, beaten, oppressed, — 
Stretch out a hand to help ns that we may have food and rest. 

Too long have we roamed neglected, too long have we sickened 

with fear. 
The mercy yon hope and pray for you can grant us, now and 

here. — Etheldred Barry. 



Among the noblest in the land, 

Though he may count himself the least, 
That man I honor and revere, 
Who, without frown, without fear, 
In the great city dares to stand 

The friend of every friendless beast. 

— Longfellow. 




BOSA BONHBTJB 



104 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

ROSA BONHEUR. 

Rosa Bonheur was a French artist and one of the most gifted 
painters who ever lived. Her father was an artist with a large 
family, and had a hard struggle to take care of them, so Eosa 
began to draw pictures when she was a young girl in order to 
help to support the family. 

This was no hardship for her, however, for she delighted 
to draw and paint, and would sing at her work all the day long. 
When she was seventeen years of age she began to study ani- 
mals, and to find them she made trips in the fields, in the woods 
and amongst lonely, steep mountains. 

She was also very fond of birds, and at one time the family 
had a pet sheep which they kept in their apartment, on the 
sixth floor of the building where they lived. 

After a time her father died from overwork in trying to sup- 
port his large family, and then the burden laid on Rosa was 
heavier than ever. 

But her brave spirit never faltered, and after a time she 
painted many pictures which made her famous. Some of the 
best are "The Horse Fair," "The Horse to Be Sold," "Horses 
Leaving the Watering-place," "A Flock of Sheep," and "The 
Hay Field." 

But we should remember her, not only for her wonderful pic- 
tures, but also for her kind heart, for her cheerful willingness to 
help her father and family, and for her great love of animals. 



HEROES AND &REATHEARTS 105 

THE LAMB. 

Little lamb, who made thee? 
Dost thou know who made thee? 
Gavest thee life, and bade thee feed 
By the stream and on the mead; 
Gave thee clothing of delight, 
Softest clothing, woolly, bright; 
Gave thee such a tender voice. 
Making all the vales rejoice? 
Little lamb, who made thee? 
Dost thou know who made thee? 

Little lamb, I'll tell thee, 
Little lamb, I'll tell thee: 
He is called by thy name, 
For he calls himself a Lamb. 
He is meek and he is mild, 
He became a little child. 
I, a child, and thou a lamb. 
We are called by his name. 
Little lamb, God bless thee ! 
Little lamb, God bless thee 1 

— William Blake. 




CANON TABRAB 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS . 107 

CANON FARRAB AT THE SEASIDE. 

Fredrick William Farrar was a close friend of Queen Vic- 
toria and the royal family, and held a very high office in the 
Church of England. He was known all over the world, not only 
as an eloquent speaker, and writer of books, but as a man with 
a great heart. He took the part of not only poor and unfor- 
tunate people, but of the dumb creatures as well, who cannot 
tell us of their sufferings. 

From the pulpit in Westminster Abbey, Canon Farrar once 
appealed to his people in this way : 

"Not once or twice only at the seaside have I come across 
a sad and disgraceful sight — a sight which haunts me still — a 
number of harmless seabirds lying defaced and dead upon the 
sand, their white plumage red with blood, as they had been 
tossed there dead, or half-dead, their torture and massacre hav- 
ing furnished a day's amusement to heartless and senseless men. 
Amusement? I say execrable amusement. Can you imagine 
the stupid callousness, the utter insensibility to mercy and 
beauty, of the man who, seeing those bright, beautiful creatures 
as their white immaculate wings flash in the sunshine over the 
blue waves, can go out with a boat with his boys to teach them 
to become brutes in character by finding amusement in wantonly 
murdering these fair birds of God, or cruelly wounding them 
and letting them fly away to wait and die in lonely places ?" 

So this good man spoke to the cruel men who seem never so 
happy as when they can kill some of the beautiful and innocent 
creatures which God has made and placed in the world to enjoy 
it with us. 



108 HEE0E8 AND UREATHEARTS 



IF EVER I SEE. 



If ever I see, 
On bnsli or tree. 

Young birds in their ])rettY nest, 
I must not in play, 
Steal the birds awa}^ 

To grieve their mothers l)reast. 

My mother I know, 
Would sorrow so, 

Should I be stolen away; 
So I'll speak to the birds 
In my softest words, 

Nor hurt them in my play. 

And when they can fly 
In the bright blue sky, 

They'll warble a song to me; 
And then if I'm sad 
It wdll make me glad 

To think they are happ}' and free. 

— A utkor Un kno w n . 



HEROES AND GEEATHEAETS 109 

ST. FRANCIS AND THE BIEDS. 

About seven hundred years ago there was bom a boy who was 
as gentle as a child all through his life. When he grew to be 
a man he became a priest, and was so beloved by the people that 
they called him St. Francis. He lived near a town called 
Assisi, and so he is known as St. Francis of Assisi. 

He was not only kind and affectionate to the people about 
him, but his heart was so large and generous that he loved all 
God's creatures, and especially the birds. 

A legend has come down to us from one of the quaint old 
writers of his time, -which relates that as he was traveling- 
through the country he saw a flock of birds and turned away 
from the road so that he could get nearer to them. The story 
says that the birds, instead of being afraid of him, flocked all 
about him, as if to bid him welcome. Then he began to talk to 
them : 

"Brother birds," he said, "you ought to praise and love your 
Creator very much. He has given you feathers for clothing, 
wings for flying, and all that is needful for you. He permits 
you to live in the pure air ; you have neither to sow nor to reap, 
and yet he takes care of you, watches over you and guides you." 

Then the story says the birds began to arch their necks, to 
spread out their wings, to open their beaks, to look at him as if 
to thank him, while he went up and down in their midst, strok- 
ing them with the border of his tunic and sending them awav 
at last with his blessing. 



no ^ HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

The story also relates that at one time he was preaching to 
the people when the swallows chirped so loudly that he could 
not be heard. 

"It is my turn to speak/' he said to the swallows — ^little sis- 
ter swallows, hearken to the voice of God; keep silent until I 
have finished/' 

It is said of him that his love extended to all creation, from 
the sun to the earth-worm, and so his memory has come down 
to us through all these seven hundred years, as of a man with 
a heart large enough to love and cherish all the creatures which 
God has made and placed under our care. 

ANSELM AND THE HARE. 

Anselm, the priest from Italy, 

He whom the poet Dante named 
The greatest saint in paradise. 

He whose high wisdom justly claimed 

Obedience from monks and kings, 

Rode, as it chanced upon a day. 
Where stately English trees outstretched 

Their spreading boughs along the way. 

From out the wood there rushed a hare. 
With following huntsmen on her track: 

A voice and hand were lifted up. 

The good priest bade the men stand back. 



HEKOES AND GREATHEARTS HI 

They paused, amazed, for wild with fright. 
The trembling creature swiftly sprang 

Beneath his horse, as if she saw 
Her ho{)es of safety on him hang. 

"Behold," he spake with gentle voice, 

"How she beneath my horse's feet 
Hath sought a refuge. Think ye not, 

To send her safely forth were meet? 

"In need man flees to God for aid ; 

That mercy which he seeks on high 
Shall he not grant the timorous beast 

That fearful shrinks, afraid to die?" 

Then sped the hare into the wood, 

With bounding leaps and nerves astrain. 

And, with a blessing foi* each man, 
Anselm, the priest, rode on again. 

GuLiELMA Zollinger, in ''Independent/' 



112 HEEOES AND GEEATHEABT8 

ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS AND HIS PETS. 

Alexander H. Stephens was one of the most eminent states- 
men and brightest intellects which the South has produced. 
No man had more influence in his native State, Georgia, than 
he. Every office he held, he adorned, not only by his great abil- 
ity, but by his inflexible love of justice and the right. 

Although he was frail in body, he was a leader of men, and 
his counsels were usually followed l)y his admiring people. 

This great man had an intense love for his home and for the 
animals about him. Some men can form a strong attachment 
for a horse or dog, but for nothing else. But Mr. Stephens 
loved all creatures with whom he came in contact, and especially 
their young. When at home one of his greatest recreations was 
to go out to his barnyard and Avatch by the hour the comical 
antics of his little pigs. 

He had several dogs, and would talk to, and pet them as if 
they were human beings. They slept at night either in his 
room or outside his door. They were his body guard and 
watched the house so faithfully that the doors were never locked. 

A poodle named *^^Eio" was for years his constant companion. 
This dog became blind several years l^efore it died and received 
as much care as if it were a member of his family. 

And so this eminent man, whose name and memory are so 
dear to the people of his native State, left another example of 
kindness toward our dumb companions. 



HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 113 

MILES KEOGH'S HORSE. 

On the bluff of the Little Big Horn, 

At the close of a woful day, 
Custer and his Three Hundred 

In death and silence lay. 

Three Hundred to Three Thousand ! 

They had bravely fought and bled : 
For such is the will of Congress 

When the White man meets the Eed. 

The white men are ten millions, 

The thriftiest under the sun ; 
The red are fifty thousand, 

And warriors every one. 

So Custer and all his fighting men 

Lay under the evening skies, 
Staring up at the tranquil heaven 

AYith wide, accusing eyes. 

And of all that stood at noonday 

In that fiery scorpion ring. 
Miles Keogh's horse at evening 

Was the only living thing. 

Alone from that field of slaughter. 
Where lav the three hundred slain. 



114 HEEOES AND GKEATHEARTS 

The horse Comanche wandered, 
With. Keogh^s blood on his mane. 

And Stnrgis issued this order, 
Which future times shall read, 

While the love and honor of comrades 
Are the soul of the soldier's creed. 

He said : 

"Let the horse Comanche, 

Henceforth till he shall die, 
Be kindl}' cherished and cared for 

By the Seventh Cavalry. 

"He shall do no labor ; he never shall know 

The touch of spur or rein; 
Nor shall his back be ever crossed 

By living rider again. 

"And at regimental formation 

Of the Seventh Cavalry, 
Comanche, draped in mourning, and led 

By a trooper of Company I, 

/ "Shall parade with the Eegiment!" 
Thus it was 
Commanded and thus done. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 115 

By order of General Stiirgis, signed 
By Adjutant Garlington. 

Even as the sword of Cutter, 

In his disastrous fall, 
Flashed out a blaze that charmed the world 

And glorified his pall. 

This order, issued amid the gloom 

That shrouds our army's name. 
When all foul beasts are free to rend 

And tear its honest name, 

Shall prove to a callous people 

That the sense of a soldier's worth. 
That the love of comrade's, the honor of arms, 

Have not yet perished from earth. 

Author Unhnoum. 




JOHN J. AUDUBON 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 117 

WHAT IT COSTS TO KILL THE BIRDS. 

Perhaps you have heard of the Audubon Societies, which are 
scattered all through the country, having for their object the 
saving of the birds. These societies are named after a man who 
lived about iifty years ago, whose name was John James Audu- 
])on. He was so much interested in birds that he went away 
from home all alone, for years and years, traveling all over the 
country, going into the wildest places to study the birds and 
make pictures of them. 

He was never so happy as when he found a strange bird. He 
was willing to travel hundreds of miles, over mountains, through 
swamps and woods, far away from where any people lived, if he 
could only find one. His collection of bird pictures is the finest 
ever made and is very valuable. 

The president of all the Audubon Societies in the United 
States says that every year in our country the insects destroy 
crops that are worth not less than eight hundred millions of dol- 
lars. Learned men ^^'ho spend their lives in making a study of 
insects know the immense loss which they cause to farmers, gar- 
deners and fruit growers, and are able to make very close esti- 
mates as to what these losses cost in money. The reason for their 
fearful destruction is that the birds who feed on these insects are 
killed off, more and more each year, for their feathers, and for 
cruel sport. They are our good friends ; let us not kill them. 



118 HEROES AND GEE ATHE ARTS 

ONLY AN INSECT. 
Only an insect; yet I know 
It felt the sunlight's golden glow, 
And the sweet morning made it glad 
With all the little heart it had. 

It saw the shadows move; it knew 
The grass blades glittered, wet with dew ; 
And gaily o'er the ground it went; 
It had its fullness of content. 

Some dainty morsel then it spied, 
And for the treasure turned aside; 
Then laden with its little spoil, 
Back to its nest began to toil. 

A being, formed of larger frame. 
Called man, along the pathway came. 
A ruthless foot aside he thrust, 
And ground the beetle into dust. 

Perchance no living being missed 
The life that ceased to exist; 
Yet its small share of life was given 
By the same hand that orders heaven. 

Autlior Unknown, 



HEROES AND GEEATHEART8 119 



DICK AND BLIND CHARLEY. 



There is no doubt that horses know a great deal more than 
we think. Sometimes they do acts of kindness which surprise 
us and set us a good example. 

Once there were two horses which were kept in the town of 
Carnford in Wales. One of them was named Dick and the 
other (which was blind) was named Charley. One day Charley 
wandered down to a river, and when he got in the water, as he 
could not see the shore, he kept getting in farther and farther, 
until the water was so deep that he had to swim. He then went 
swimming around in a circle in the river, trying to get to the 
shore. Dick was grazing on the bank of the river and when he 
saw Charley swimming around and around he must have though 
to himself, 

"That poor horse cannot see or he would not act that way. 
I will call to him ; perhaps he will mind my voice.^' 

So Dick went down to the water edge and neighed as loudly 
as he could. Still Charley did not know which way to get out, 
and it may be was deaf as well as blind. Then Dick must have 
thought to himself, 

"That poor horse will get tired by and by and will soon be 
drowned if I do not help him." 

So he jumped in the river and swam out to where Charley 
was and touched his nose, as much as to say, "Follow me," and 
then he sfuided Charley saf el v to shore. 



120 HEEOES AND GREATHEARTS 

By this time a great many people had gathered on the shore, 
and when Dick brought Charley out safely they cheered him as 
loudly as they could, just as we would, had we been there. 

We hope you will be as ready to help a friend in need as 
Dick was. 



THE MARCH OF COMPANY "A." 

"Forward, march V was the captain's word. 
And the tramp of a hundred men was heard, 
As they formed into line in the morning gray, 
Shoulder to shoulder went Company A. 

Out of the shadow into the sun, 
A hundred men that moved as one; 
Out of the dawning into the day, 
A glittering file, went Company A. 

Marching along to the rendezvous, 
By grassy meadows the road ran through, 
By springing cornfields and orchards gay, 
Forward, forward, went Company A. 

A breath like a sigh ran through the ranks 
Treading those odorous blossom-banks, 
For the orchard hillsides far away. 
The northern hillsides of Company A. 



HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 121 

Forward, march ! — and the dream was sped ; 
Out of the pine wood straight ahead 
Clattered a troop of the Southern gray 
Face to face with Company A. 

Forth with a flash in the Southern sun 
A hundred sabres leaped like one. 
Sudden drum-beat and bugle-play 
Sounded the charge for Company A. 

Halt ! What is here ? A slumbering child, 
Roused by the blast of the bugle wild, 
Between the ranks of the blue and gray. 
Right in the path of Company A. 

Nothing knowing of North or South, 
Her dimpled finger within her mouth, 
Her gathered apron with blossoms gay. 
She stared at the guns of Company A. 

Straightway set for a sign of truce 
Whitely a handkerchief fluttered loose, 
As front of the steel of the Southern gray 
Galloped the captain of Company A. 



122 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

To his saddle-bow he swung the child, 
With a kiss on the baby lips that smiled. 
While the boys in blue and the boys in gray 
Cheered for the captain of Company A. 

Out of the arms that held her safe 
He took 'with a smile the little waif. 
A grip of the hand 'twixt blue and gray, 
And back rode the captain of Company A. 

Up there, in the distant cottage door, 
A mother clasping her child once more, 
Shuddered at sight of the smoke-cloud gray 
Shrouding the path of Company A. 

A little later and all was done — 
The battle was over, the victory won. 
N'othing left of the pitiless fray 
That swept the ranks of Company A. 

Nothing left — save the bloody stain 
, Darkening the orchard's rosy rain. 
Dead the chief of the Southern gray, 
And dead the captain of Company A. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 123 

Fallen together the gTs.j and blue, 

Gone to the final rendezvous, 

A grave to cover, a prayer to say. 

And — Forward, march ! went Company A. 

—The Century, 



SENATOR GEOEGE F. HOAR AND THE BIRDS. 

This great man was one of the finest lawyers and ablest men 
in his day. For many years he represented his native state of 
Massachusetts in the United States Senate, which is a very high 
office. He lived a very busy life, but he was not so busy as to 
forget to plead for the birds. 

He made the following appeal to the Massachusetts Legisla- 
ture, which resulted in the passing of a law prohibiting the 
wearing of song birds on women's hats. He makes the birds 
to speak for themselves in the following beautiful words : 

"To the Great and General Court of the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts : We, the song birds of Massachusetts and their 
playfellows, make this our humble petition. We know more 
about you than you think we do. We know how good you are. 
We have hopped about the roofs and looked in at the windows 
of the houses you have built for poor and sick and hungry people 
and little lame and deaf and blind children. We have built our 
nests in the trees and sung many a song as we flew about the 




GBOBOB F. HOAS 



HEEOES AND GREATHEAKTS 125 

gardens and parks you have made so beautiful for your own 
children, especially your poor children, to play in. 

"Every year we fly a great way over the country, keeping all 
the time where the sun is bright and warm; and we know that 
when you do anything other people all over the great land be- 
tween the seas and the great lakes find it out, and pretty soon 
will try to do the same thing. We know ; we know. 

We are Americans just as you are. Some of us, like some of 
you, came from across the great sea, but most of the birds like us 
have lived here a long while; and birds like us welcomed your 
fathers when they came here many years ago. Our fathers and 
mothers have always done their best to please your fathers and 
mothers. 

"N"ow, we have a sad story to tell you. Thoughtless or bad 
people are trying to destroy us. They kill us because our feath- 
ers are beautiful. Even pretty and sweet girls, who we should 
think would be our best friends, kill our brothers and children 
so that they may wear their plumage on their hats. 

Sometimes people kill us from mere wantonness. Cruel boys de- 
stroy our nests and steal our eggs and our young ones. People with 
guns and snares lie in wait to kill us, as if the place for a bird were 
not in the sky, alive, but in a shop window or under a glass case. 
If this goes on much longer all your song birds will be gone. 
Already, we are told, in some other countries that used to be 
full of birds, they are almost gone. Even the nightingales are 
being all killed in Italv. 



126 HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 

"A^ow we humbly pra}' that yon will stop all this, and will 
save us from this sacl fate. You have already made a law that 
no one shall kill a harmless song bird or destroy our nests or 
our eggs. Will you please to make another that no one shall 
wear our feathers, so that no one will kill us to get them ? Wo 
Avant them all ourselves. Your pretty girls are pretty enough 
without them. We are told that it is as easy for you to do it 
as for Blackbird to whistle. 

"If you will, we know how to pay you a hundred times over. 
We will teach your children to keep themselves clean and neat. 
We will show them how to live together in peace and love and 
to agree as we do in our nests. We will ])uild pretty houses 
which you will like to see. We will play about your gardens 
and flower-beds — ourselves like flowers on wings — without any 
cost to you. We will destroy the wicked insects and worms that 
spoil your cheri^es and currants and plums and apples and 
roses. AYe will give you our best songs and make the spring 
more beautiful and the summer sweeter to you. Every June 
morning when you go out into the field, Oriole and Blackbird 
and Bol)olink will fly after you and make the day more delight- 
ful to you; and when you go home tired at sundown Vesper 
Sparrow will tell you how grateful we are. When you sit on 
your porch after dark Fife Bird and Hermit Thrush and Wood 
Thrush will sing to 3^ou, and even Whip-poor-will will cheer up 
a little. We know where we are safe. In a little while all the 
birds will come to live in Massachusetts again, and everybody 
who loves music will like to make a summer home with vou. 



HEEOES AND GEEATHEARTS 127 

"The signers are : Brown Thrasher^ Robert o^ Lincoln, Hermit 
Thrush, Vesper Sparrow, Eobin Eed Breast, Song Sparrow, 
Scarlet Tanager, Summer Red Bird, Blue Heron, Humming 
Bird, Yellow Bird, Whip-poor-will, Water Wag-tail, Wood- 
pecker, Pigeon Woodpecker, Indigo Bird, Yellow Throat, Wil- 
son's Thrush, Chickadee, King Bird, Swallow, Cedar Bird, Cow 
Bird, Martin, Veery, Vireo, Oriole, Black Bird, Fife Bird, 
Wren, Linnet, Pee Wee, Phoebe, Yoke Bird, Lark, Sandpiper, 
Chewink/' 



THE TRUANT BIRD. 

An empty cage ! The bird has flown ! 
Where can my little friend have gone? 
Last night I left him on his perch. 
But now, although I peep and search. 
And wander here and wander there, 
I cannot find him anywhere ! 
Such friends we were, you may believe, 
No wonder that I sorely grieve. 
I fed him from my very hand ; 
Upon my fingers he would stand. 
And often from my lips remove 
Some dainty that all song-birds love. 
I cannot think he meant to go — 
He surely would not leave me so ! 
I'll wait beneath this maple tree ; 



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THE TRUANT BIRD 



Fromr painUiiff by 
Meyer von Bremen 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 129 

Perhaps his golden crest 1^11 see. 
A twitter from the topmost bough, 
A burst of song, a rush, and now 
Upon my shoulder nestles he, 
As happy as a bird can be ! 
Why did you go, you naughty thing ? 
You might have broken leg or wing, 
And fallen where no friend was near 
To ease your pain, or bring you cheer. 
I did not mean to fly away — 
At least I did not mean to sta}^ — 
But you forgot to give me drink 
And nice, fresh seed — oh, only think ! 
So, to remind you, day by day, 
I made believe to run away? 

— Selected. 



130 HEROES AND GKEATHEARTS 

IVAN AND THE QUAIL. 

There was once a little boy named Ivan who lived in Eussia. 
The country where he lived was like a great bare prairie with ■ 
out any trees, but in some places there were ravines or hollows, 
at the bottom of which were small streams. In some places 
there were bushes on the sides of the ravines, so that the quail 
and partridges made their home there. This boy's father was 
a rich man and a great hunter and he had a fine hunting dog 
named Treasure, which always went with him when he hunted. 
Ivan often w^ent with them and thought it great sport. When 
his father shot a bird, Treasure would run to pick it up and 
fetch it to them in his mouth. , Then Ivan jumped and shouted 
for joy. 

One day they went out hunting in one of the ravines and 
pretty soon a quail flew up almost imder Treasure's nose. She 
would fly up and then drop to the ground, as though she was 
wounded. Ivan's father did not dare to fire for fear of hitting 
the dog. In a few minutes Treasure caught the quail and 
brought it to them. The father held it in his hand with its 
breast up and said, ^'She must have her nest of young ones not 
far from here, for she pretended to be wounded so as to draw 
the dog away from the nest and save her little ones, but Treas- 
ure has hurt her and she will not live." The little boy went 
close to the quail as it lay still in his father's hand, and its black 
ey^ looked at him. All at once his heart was moved with a 
great pity, for it seemed to him as if the poor little creature 
looked at him and thought : 



HEEOES AND GREATHEART8 131 

"Why should I die? Wh}^? Have I not done my duty? I 
tried to save my little ones by attracting the dog away, and I 
am caught. Poor me ! Poor me ! It is not just ! !N'o, it is 
not just/' 

The boy caressed the poor bird's head with his hand, but in a 
moment her body trembled and her eyes closed and the boy 
burst into tears and cried as if his heart would break, for the 
bird was dead. 

Very soon Treasure found the nest and the father called tlic 
dog away before he had hurt the little ones. The boy went to 
the nest and there were four little quails with their necks 
stretched out and mouths open for food. The father sat down 
and began to eat the lunch which he had brought, but the boy 
could not eat. He sat down and put the dead mother quail in 
his handkerchief and said, 

"Poor little birds ! Your mother lias been killed. What will 
become of 3^ou?'* 

Then Ivan and his father went away, the <log trotting after 
them. 

A few days after Ivan went back and found the little birds 
had starved to death. 

From that day Ivan lost his passion for sport and hunting. 
His father had promised some time before to make him a present 
of a fine gun, but he did not want it. He could find no pleasure 
in killing God's creatures for sport. — Adapted. 




Bonheur 



HEEOES AND GEEATHEAETS 133 

SPITZ'S EDUCATION. 

Oh, Spitz ! This really is too bad — 

A dog brought up like you ! 
Do you forget already, sir, 

All youVe been taught to do ? 

Now, look at me, and pray attend ; 

Give me your right-hand paw ! 
No ! that is not the right one. Spitz, 

Your honor is concerned; 
You would not gobble up the cake 

Because my back was turned. 

And you must learn to balance things 

Upon your shiny nose ; 
And, Spitz, be careful when you walk, 

To turn out well your toes. 

Some day I'll teach you, Spitz, to walk 

Upon two legs, like me ; 
But then, old Spitz, you must behave 

With more gentility. 

Your paw again. You shocking dog ! 

With all the pains I've taken, 
To find in right and left paw still 

You always are mistaken ! 

— Mrs. Charles Heaton. 



134 HEEOES AND GKEATHEAETS 

WHAT ANIMALS DO FOR US. 

Do you ever think how much we owe to the animals and how 

,poor the world would be without them? What should we do 

without the cow? She gives us milk, from which butter and 

cheese are made; her flesh to eat, and her skin to make our 

shoes, to keep our feet dry and warm. 

The patient ox is one of the first pioneers in a new and rough 
country. He draws the plow through the tough sod and hauls 
the logs to make a log house, or to the saw mill to be made into 
lumber. 

The sheep gives us wool to make our warm clothing and flesh 
to eat. 

The hog gives us the hams and bacon, which last through the 
long winters. 

The reindeer lives where it is so cold that it would seem as if 
nothing could live, and feeds on moss which seems to grow on 
purpose for it. It gives milk, draws the sledges over great 
snow and ice fields, gives its flesh to eat and its skin for warm 
clothing. 

The goat in many countries is one of the most valuable of 
animals, because it can live where there is little to eat, and it 
gives milk to drink and its skin for clothing. 

The camel is called the "ship of the desert,^^ for without it 
man could not travel in hot countries hundreds and hundreds 
of miles over sandy deserts. Besides carrying great loads it 
also gives milk for food. The elephant in some countries is 
taught how to carry great loads and to do other kinds of labor. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 135 

But what could we do without the horse? The faithful 
friend and companion of man, who does his bidding in a thou- 
sand different ways. He is the most useful of all our servants, 
and we simply could not get along without him. 

How we should miss the dog, the faithful friend of man, who 
is often ready to die for him. He shares man^s dangers and 
hardships without complaint, even when badly treated. 

What should we do without the hens ? We seldom think that 
the hens and their eggs are one of the greatest sources of in- 
come to our national wealth. 

There are many other animals, tame and wild, which add to 
our comfort and happiness, but those already mentioned are 
enough to show us how dependent we are on the animal world, 
and how much they contribute to our daily life. If we receive 
so much from them should we not in all fairness give them, at 
least, good care and kind treatment? 



I would not enter on my list of friends 
(Though graced with polished manners and fine sense 
Yet wanting sensibility) the man 
Who needlessly sets foot upon a worm. 

— William Cowper. 




A HAPPY PAMH-T 



From painting hp 
Landseer 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 137 

A HAPPY FAMILY. 

'Twas a bitter cold morning; the new-fallen snow 
Had pierced every crack where a snowfiake could go ; 
The streams were all solid, the ice sharp and clear; 
And even the fishes were chilly, I fear. 

Almost all the wild creatures were troubled and cold, 
And sighed for sweet Summer, the shy and the bold ; 
But one thrifty family, as you must know, 
Was breakfasting merrily under the snow. 

Close by a tall tree, in a hole in the ground, 
Which led to a parlor, with leaves cushioned round, 
Five jolly red squirrels were sitting at ease, 
x\nd eating their breakfast as gay as you please. 

—D. E. R. Goodale. 



SOME BIRDS' NESTS. 

There is a great variety in the material which is used by the 
birds for building their nests. Eobins' nests are always quite 
similar in size, shape and material. So it is with the other 
bird families. I will tell you of a few different kinds of nests. 

There is a bird called the cliff-swallow, which builds its nest 
of clay on the side of a cliff. A number of birds usually work 
together. Flying off in different directions, they return with 



138 HEEOES AND GREATHEARTS 

clay which they soften before putting it on their nests. One, 
who seems to be the master builder, stays in the nests, smooths 
off the clay and sees that the work is properly done. In this 
way a little village of nests is made. 

The barn swallow^s nest is built in pretty much the same way. 
In front of it is a tiny platform on which the father sits and 
sings to his mate as she warms the eggs in the nest. 

The magpie is a sly and cunning bird. She steals and eats 
the eggs from other birds^ nests, and for this reason greatly 
deserves the dislike of her bird neighbors. She must have a 
very guilty conscience, for she seems to fear that other birds will 
retaliate upon her. In building her own nest she protects it 
from all marauding birds by covering it closely with a net work 
of thorns. 

Among the most interesting of all birds' nests are those of 
the weaver birds. To this class belongs the Baltimore oriole, 
which weaves its nest of fine grass, threaded through and 
through, and suspended from some convenient limb. There is 
also another weaver bird, common in Asia and Africa, which 
weaves its nest very much as the oriole does and suspends it 
from the end of some branch overhanging the water. This is 
done to keep it out of the reach of snakes and monkeys ; for 
the twig, strong enough to l)ear the weight of a bird's nest, would 
not support one of these animals. 

There is a weaver bird in Africa called the "social weaver." 
A number of these go together and build a great grass canopy 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 139 

in the top of some tree, which will shed water like an umbrella. 
When this is completed each pair of birds build their nest under 
its shelter. 

Perhaps the most interesting of all birds' nests is that of the 
tailor bird, which lives in India. It selects a large, sound leaf, 
and after making small holes in either side with its beak it sews 
the two together. When this is done it builds a soft, downy nest 
inside. This is alwa3^s suspended from the end of a slender 
twig, to keep it out of the reach of an}^ mischievous animals. It 
is said that the tailor bird not only sews, but will also, make a 
knot in the end of the thread to prevent its slipping through. 

— Elizabeth Davis Fielder. 



THE EMPEEOR'S BIRD'S-NEST. 

Once the Emperor Charles of Spain, 
With his sw^arthy, grave commanders, 

I forget in what campaign, 

Long besieged, in mud and rain, 
Some old frontier town of Flanders. 

Up and down the dreary camp, 
In great boots of Spanish leather, 

Striding with a measured tramp. 

These Hidalgos, dull and damp. 

Cursed the Frenchmen, cursed the weather 



140 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

Thus as to and fro they went, 

Over upland and through hollow, 
Giving their impatience vent, 
Perched upon the emperor^s tent, 
In her nest, they spied a swallow. 

Yes ; it was a swallow's nest, 

Built of clay and hair of horses, 
Mane or tail, or dragon's crest. 
Found on hedge-rows east and west, 
After skirmish of the forces. 

Then an old Hidalgo said. 

As he twirled his gray mustachio, 
"Sure this swallow overhead 
Thinks the emperor's tent a shed. 
And the emperor but a Macho ! 

Hearing his imperial name 

Coupled with those words of malice. 
Half in anger, half in shame, 
Forth the great campaigner came 

Slowly from his canvas palace. 

/^"Let no hand the bird molest," 

Said he solemnly, "nor hurt her !" 
Adding then by way of jest, 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 141 

"Golondrina is my guest, 

'Tis the wife of some deserter !" 

Swift as bowstring speeds a shaft, I 

Through the camp was spread the rumor, ', 

And the soldiers, as they quaifed 
Flemish beer at dinner, laughed I 

At the emperor^s pleasant humor. ] 

j 

So unliarmed and unafraid ■ 

Sat the swallow still and brooded, 
Till the constant cannonade 
Through the walls a breach had made. 

And the siege was thus concluded. 

Then the army, elsewhere bent. 

Struck its tents as if disbanding. 

Only not the emperor's tent, 

For he ordered, 'ere he went, 

1 
Very curtly, "Leave it standing!" i 



So it stood there all alone. 

Loosely flapping, torn and tattered. 
Till the brood was fledged and flown, 
Singing o'er those walls of stone 

Which the cannon-shot had shattered. 

— Henry Wadsworth Longfelloiv 



HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 143 



CHARLES DICKENS. 



Charles Dickens was a vei}' popular English story writer. 
When he was a little boy, his father was poor and Charles was 
put into a warehouse to work, where he had a sad, hard life. 
When he grew older he found that he could write stories which 
were so good that millions of people would read them. He 
liated cruelty and wrongdoing and never forgot the time when 
lie was a poor boy in the warehouse. Few men have ever lived 
who have done more to prevent cruelty. 

Before he began to write there were hundreds of schools where 
l)oys were out away from home. In many of them the school 
masters were very cruel and flogged the boys without mercy if 
they had imperfect lessons or for other reasons. Very often, 
too, the boys did not get enough to eat and suffered for want 
of care. 

There were also hundreds of girls^ boarding schools where 
little girls were cruelly treated. Then there were thousands of 
little boys in workhouses and warehouses and shops, whose lives 
were being crushed out. Then there were many other people 
whose lives were dark and sorrowful, because they were treated 
unjustly. Dickens wrote stories about all of these, and so ex- 
cited the pity and sympathy of the world that laws were changed 
and the lives of these unfortunate people w^ere made brighter 
and happier. 



144 HEROES AND GBEATHEARTS 

His own heart seemed so full of joy that wherever he went 
there was sunshine. At the same time his heart was so full of 
pity for the sorrowful and downtrodden that we are moved to 
tears of sympathy when reading some of his stories. 



BOB WHITE. 

Old friend, I hear your whistle 

Upon the zigzag rail; 
Your cheery voice of welcome 

Eings on the autumn gale ; 
When scarlet leaves and golden 

Dance in the amber light, 
You tell me of your presence 

With a vim, Bob White ! 

A AA'hole-souled little fellow, 

In speckled coat of brown, 
You heed not summer's passing 

Or skies that darkly frown ; 
While other birds are quiet, 

Your call comes to delight, 
And that is why I like you 

Most of all, Bob ^¥hite ! 

Philosopher in feathers, 
Fd join your happy school ; 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 145 

The heart forever sighing 

Belongeth to the fool ! 
Happy-go-lucky fellow, 

Though chilly breezes blight, 
There's always summer sunshine 

In your heart, Bob White ! 

The world has so much sorrow, 

AVe need your lively call; 
A soul to face all trouble. 

Ah ! that's the best of all ! 
The snow will soon be falling, 

Nor hill nor vale in sight ; 
But I have learned your lesson 

In my heart, Bob White ! 

— Lucy Larcom. 




UOBERT LOUIS STEVENSON 



HEBOES AND GREATHEARTS 147 

ROBERT LOXnS STEVENSON. 

Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scotch writer, who wrote many 
story books which have become famous, amongst which are 
"Treasure Island/' "Kidnapped'- and others. 

He was born in Edinburgh in the year 1850 and died in 1805. 
His grandfather, father and uncle were great engineers and 
builders, who erected lighthouses in the sea, where it seemed 
impossible to l)uild them, and they wanted Robert to follow the 
same calling. But he had no inclination for that calling and 
then his father wanted him to l)ecome a lawyer, which he did, 
but this profession also was distasteful to him. He liked to 
wander in the fields and moors, to explore the woods and 
mountains, to mix with different classes of people, to study 
them and notice their peculiarities. He became a writer of 
books and he delighted in his work. 

He suffered from poor health most of his life, and during his 
last years found it necessary to live in a warm, balmy climate. 
He went to the Island of Samoa, which is one of the Pacific 
Islands, and made a home amongst the natives. It was a de- 
lightful climate, and he probably prolonged his life for several 
years by living there. When living in Samoa he had a strong 
little Samoan pony named "Jack," on which he used to ride for 
his health. He was very strongly attached to this little animal 
and showed his affection for it by arranging that after his 
death it should be cared for and that it should not be used by 
any one else as long as it lived. 



148 HEEOES AND aREATHEAKTS 

He was kind not only to his pony, but to the people about 
him and they all loved him. When he lay in his coffin an old 
Samoan chief, whom Stevenson had befriended, came up and 
crouched close to the remains and said: 

"I am only a poor Samoan and ignorant. We were in prison 
and he cared for us. We were sick and he made us well. We 
were hungry and he fed us. The day was no longer than his 
kindness.'^ 

The native chiefs dug his grave on the spot which he had 
chosen on the side of a mountain, and they carried his body up 
the steep ascent when he was buried. 

So the fragrance of his life was even more than the brilliancy 
of his books. He left a prayer, which has become a classic in 
our language. It is as follows : 

"We thank Thee for the place in which we dwell, for the love 
that unites us ; for the peace accorded us this day ; for the hope 
with which we expect the morrow ; for the health, the work, the 
food and the bright skies that make our lives delightful, for 
our friends in all parts of the earth, and our friendly helpers in 
this foreign isle. Grive us courage and gaiety and the quiet 
mind. Spare to us our friends, soften to us our enemies. Bless 
us, if it may be; give us the strength to encounter that which 
is to come, that we may be brave in peril, constant in tribulation, 
temperate in wrath and in all changes of fortune, and down to 
the gates of death, loyal and loving, one to another." 

He did not live a long life, for he died when forty-five years 



HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 149 

of age, but he left the world brighter and better because he had 
lived in it. 

His little poem entitled "My Kingdom" shows how well he 
understood and could interpret child life. 



MY KINGDOM. 

Down by a shining water well 
I found a very little dell, 

Xo higher than my head. 
The heather and the gorse about 
In summer bloom were coming out, 

Some yellow and some red. 

I called the little pool a sea ; 
The little hills were big to me ; 

For I am very small. 
I made a boat, I made a town, 
I searched the caverns up and down, 

And named them one and all. 

And all about was mine, I said; 
The little sparrows overhead, 

The little minnows too. 
This was the world and I was the king; 
For me the bees came by to sing, 

For me the swallows flew. 



150 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

I played there were no deeper seas, 
Nor any wider plains than these, 

Xor other kings than me. 
At last I heard my mother call 
Out from the house at evenfall, 

To call me home to tea. 

And I must rise and leave my dell, 
And leave my dimpled water well. 

And leave my heather blooms. 
Alas; and as I neared my home. 
How very big my nurse appeared. 

How great and cool the rooms. 

— Robert Louis Stevenson. 




ROBERT BROWNING 



152 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

ROBEKT AND ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. 

Eobert Browning may well be called the Poet of Hope. He 
looked at the bright side of life, and found joy and gladness 
where others see nothing but sadness and despair. 

His own words well describe him : 

"One who never turned his back, but marched breast forward. 

Never doubted clouds would break, 
Never dreamed, though right were- worsted, wrong would 
triumph, 

Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better, sleep to wake.'' 

We may be sure that such a man had an affectionate nature 
and he showed this when a very young boy, for even then he had 
an anxious tenderness and care for life. He took a pooi' 
mangled cat home to be cared for, and crippled birds were 
tended and restored to health. 

His gifted wife, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, might be called 
the Poet of the "Children." While she lived there were thou- 
sands of poor little children who worked long days in dark coal 
mines and in crowded factories, whose lives were being crushed 
out. 

She wrote a poem called "The Cry of the Children," and 
this is one verse : 

"The young lambs are bleating in the meadows. 
The young birds are chirping in the nest, 
The young fawn are playing with the shadows, 
The young flowers are blowing toward the West — 
But the young, young children, Oh, my brothers, 




ELIZABKTH IIAHKF.TT BHoWXING 



154 HEKOES AND GKEATHEARTS 

They are weeping in the playtime of the others, 

In the country of the free/' 
This poem made such an impression on the people that laws 
were passed to protect the children from such hardship and 
misery. 

Mrs. Browning received a present from a dear friend, of a 
fine dog which she named "Flush," and this dog she made the 
subject of one of her most beautiful poems, entitled "To My 
Dog Flush." 



A little word in kindness spoken, • 

A motion or a tear, 
Has often healed the heart that's broken, 

And made a friend sincere. 

Then deem it not an idle thing 

A pleasant word to speak: 
The face you wear, the thought 30U bring, 

A heart may heal or break. 

— Whittier. 



HEEOES AND GEEATHEAETS 155 

BE KIND TO LIVING THINGS. 

Little children, bright and fair, 
Blessed with every needful care, 
Always bear this thing in mind, 
God commands us to be kind. 
Kind not only to our friends, 
Those on whom our life depends; 
Kind not only to the poor, 
Those who poverty endure; 
But in spite of form or feature, 
Kind to every living creature. 
N"ever pain or anguish bring. 
Even to the smallest thing; 
For remember that the fly. 
Just as much as you or I, 
Is the work of that great Hand, 
That has made the sea and land ; 
Therefore, children, bear in mind. 
Ever, ever to be kind. 

— The Animal Friend. 



HEEOES AND GREATHEARTS 157 

THE STORY OF GRACE DARLING. 

About seventy years ago, in the Autumn of the year, a steamer 
from Hull was ploughing her way along the !N"orth coast of 
England on her way to Dundee, Scotland. The sea was very 
rough and dashed in fury over the rocks, some of which could 
be seen above the surface of the sea. On one of these rocks a 
lighthouse had been built, to warn vessels of the dangerous 
coast, and in this lighthouse lived the keeper, Mr. Darling, and 
family, amongst them his daughter Grace, a handsome and 
vigorous girl twenty-two years old. The doomed steamer was 
not very staunch, and her machinery was- not powerful enough 
to buffet with the raging sea, and in the night she was wrecked 
on the rocks and many of the crew and passengers were washed 
from the deck and drowned. 

It seemed as if no help could reach those who remained and 
that they were doomed to a watery grave. 

In the morning as soon as it was light enough to see, the 
lighthouse keeper saw the steamer on the rocks, and that a 
heavy sea was beating upon her. Any moment she might be 
washed from her precarious position and broken in pieces. 

The lighthouse keeper felt anxious to rescue the passengers, 
l)ut the waves' were so furious that it seemed as if his little boat 
could not possibly live in such a sea and that he would be throw- 
ing his life aw^ay in vain. 

The dangers and difficulties seemed so great that he was about 
to give up. when his daughter Grace encouraged Mm to make 



158 HEB0E8 AND GREATHEARTS 

the attempt to save the passengers, and said that she would go 
with him and work one of the oars. They went, reached the 
steamer, and nine persons were helped into the boat, and in 
spite of the terrible sea, the heroic girl and her father brought 
the boat safely back to the lighthouse, where the ship-wrecked 
passengers, more dead than alive, received every possible atten- 
tion and care. All of these would have been lost had it not 
been for the heroism of the girl who was willing to risk her own 
life in order to save others whom she had never seen or heard of 
before. 

The world loves a hero, be it a man or a woman, and so the 
account of this noble deexl went all over the English speaking 
world. More than twenty-five hundred dollars was raised and 
presented to her by those who admired her bravery. Artists 
went to the lonely lighthouse to paint her portrait and to make 
pictures of the lighthouse, and of the scene where the wreck 
occurred, and yet the brave girl was so modest and forgetful of 
herself that she never would have supposed that she had done 
anything surprising had not so much been said about it. 

.Seventy years have passed since then, and in that time many 
kings and queens and powerful nobles have passed away from 
their thrones and their great possessions and their names are 
almost forgetten; but the name and memory of Grace Darling 
still lives as fresh and bright as ever and will live so long as the 
world/admires noble deeds of heroism and kindness. 



HEROES AND GKEATHEAETS 159 

TWENTY FROGGIES. 

Twenty froggies went to school 
Down beside a rushing pool ; 
Twent}" little coats of green, 
Twenty vests all white and clean. 

^'We must be in time/' said they. 
'•First we study, then we play ; 
That is how we keep the rule 
^Yhen we froggies go to school." 

]\1 aster Bullfrog, brave and stern. 
Called the classes in their turn; 
Taught them how to nobly strive, 
Also how to leap and dive. 

Taught them how to dodge a blow 
From the stick that bad boys tlirow. 
Twenty froggies grew up fast. 
Bullfrogs they became at last. 

Polished in a high degree, 
As each froggie ought to be, 
Xow they sit on other logs 
Teaching other little frogs. 

— George Cooper. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 161 

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW. 

Of all our own poets, Longfellow may be called the poet of the 
home and fireside. When a busy man writing his poems and 
fulfilling his duties as Professor of Literature in Harvard Col- 
lege, he set apart one hour each day, when his three beautiful 
children could come into his study. He would then lay aside his 
pen and devote himself to them, and you can imagine they had 
a happy, merry time. He describes this in his poem, "The 
Children's Hour," and no one can tell in how many hearts this 
poem has kindled a love for children. 



THE CHILDREX S HOUR. 

Between the dark and the daylight. 

When the night is beginning to lower, 
Comes a pause in the day's occupations 

That is kno^vn as the children's hour. 

I hear in the chamber above me 

The patter of little feet. 
The sound of the door that is opened, 

And voices soft and sweet. 

From my study I see in the lamplight, 
Descending the broad hall-stair. 

Grave Alice and laughing Allegra, 
x\nd Edith with golden hair. 



162 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

A whisper, and then a silence; 

Yet I know by their merry eyes 
They are plotting and planning together 

To take me by surprise. 

A sudden rush from the stairway, 
A sudden raid from the hall, 

By three doors left unguarded 
They enter my castle wall. 

They climb up into my turret 

Or the arms and back of my chair ; 

If I try to escape they surround me — 
They seem to be everywhere. 

They almost devour me with kisses. 
Their arms about me entwine. 

Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen 
In his mouse tow^r on the Rhine. 

Do you think, l)lue-eyed bandetti, 
Because you have scaled the wall. 

Such an old mustache as I am 
Is not a match for you all ? 

/ 

I have you fast in my fortress 
And will not let you depart, 



HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 163 

But put you down into the dungeons 
In the round tower of my heart. 

* 
And there will I keep you forever — 

Yes, forever and a day — 

Till the walls shall crumble to ruin 

And moulder in dust away. 

— Henry Wadsivorth Longfellow. 



Be kind to each other! 

The night's coming on, 
When friend and when brother 

Perchance may be gone! 
Then 'midst our dejection. 

How sweet to have earned 
The blest recollection 

Of kindness — returned. 

— Charles Swain. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 165 

WILLIAM CULLEN BEYANT. 

William Cullen Brvant was Ijorn in Massachusetts, November 
3, 1794, and died June 12, 1878. 

Like Whittier, he was a farmer's boy and his father was a 
strong, rugged man — a fine specimen of the New England 
farmer. William was a weak and sickly boy, but no doubt he 
did" the chores like other boys and worked as hard as his strength 
would allow. 

He lived to be nearly eighty-four years old and worked hard, 
which shows that if boys will take care of themselves they may 
live to a good old age, even with hard work. 

When he became a young man he prepared himself to become 
a lawyer, and w^hile a law^ student wrote the beautiful poem, 
"Robert of Lincoln,'' which follows this. He did not like the 
law^ and went to New^ York City, wdiere he became editor of a 
paper and remained so for nearly all the remainder of his life. 

He was a lover of Nature, and w^as happy in his descriptions 
of the scenery of his native land. He led a calm and serene 
life. He had an intense love of human freedom. 

His poems, such as "The Gladness of Nature," "A Summer 
Ramble," "The Evening Wind" and "The Death of the 
Flowers," w411 be read wdth delight as long as our language is 
spoken. 

When only nineteen years of age he wrote his poem, 
"Thanatopsis," which is one of the classics of the English 
language. 



166 HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 



ROBERT OF LINCOLN. 1 

I 
Merrily swinging on brier and weed, ' 

i 

N'ear to the nest of his little dame, ! 
Over the monntain-side or mead, 

Eobert of Lincoln is telling his name : ! 

"Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, ' 1 

Spink, spank, spink; j 

Snug and safe is that nest of ours, i 

i 

Hidden among the summer flowers/' 

Eobert of Lincoln is gaily drest, ■ 

Wearing a bright black wedding coat ; i 

White are his shoulders and white his crest ; i 

Hear him call, in his merry note : ; 

i 

' 'Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, ' 

Spink, spank, spink; i 

Look what a nice new coat is mine, i 

Sure there was never a bird so fine." i 

Eobert of Lincoln's Quaker wife, ., 

Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings, | 

Passing at home a patient life, j 

Broods in the grass while her husband sings : | 

"Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, j 

Spink, spank, spink ; • 

Brood, kind creature: you need not fear ; 

'I 
Thieves and robbers while I am here." - 



HEROES AND GEEATHEAETS 16; 

Modest and shy as a nun is she; 

One weak chirp is her only note. 
Braggart and prince of braggarts is lie, 
Pouring boasts from his little throat : 
"Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, 
Spink, spank, spink; 
Xever was I afraid of man ; 
Catch me, cowardly knave, if you can." 

Six white eggs on a bed of hay, 

Flecked with purple, a pretty sight. 
There as the mother sits all day, 

Robert is singing with all his might : 
"Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, 
Spink, spank, spink; 
Nice good wife, that never goes out, 
Keeping house while I frolic about." 

Soon as the little ones chip the shell, 

Six white mouths are open for food ; 
Robert of Lincoln bestirs him Avell, 
Gathering seeds for the hungry brood. 
''Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, 
Spink, spank, spink; 
This new life is likely to be 
Hard for a gay young fellow like me." 



168 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

Robert of Lincoln at length is made 

Sober with work, and silent with care ; 
Off is his holiday garment laid, 
Half forgotten his merry air : 

"Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, 
Spink, spank, spink: 
Nobody knows but my mate and I, 



Where our nest and our nestlings lie." j 

Sunmier wanes — the children are grown ; ,^ 

Fun and frolic no more he knows. ; 

i 

Robert of Lincoln's a hum-drum crone ; 

Off he flies, and we sing as he goes : ; 

''Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, ' 

Spink, spank, spink; 

When you can pipe that merry old strain. '. 

Robert of Lincoln come l)ack again.'' ; 

— William Cullen Bryant. \ 



170 HEBOES AND GREATHEARTS 

THE GRATEFUL ELEPHANT. 

There was once a splendid elephant named "Hebe*' who be- 
longed to P. T. Barnum's famous menagerie. She had stepped 
on a nail, which had pierced the tender part of her foot, so that 
she was in great agony. ^Ir. Barnimi sent for a young horse 
doctor Adio was noted for his courage, but when he saw the 
elephant standing on three legs and swinging the wounded foot 
with loud cries of pain, he felt rather timid about approaching 
the beast. But the elephant's keeper told him she had sense, so 
lie got out his instruments and went up to examine the foot. 
While he was looking at it he felt a light touch on his head and, 
looking up, saw it was the elephant's trunk. 

"Don't mind her," said the keeper; "she is only curling your 
hair." 

The keeper jabbered something to the elephant and told the 
doctor to cut into the foot. He did so and had to cut deeply to 
reach the abscess Avhich had formed, but as he cut cold drops of 
sweat came out all over him, for he felt her trunk growing 
tighter on his hair. x\t length the abscess was opened and the 
elephant was relieved, but the doctor fainted away. 

A year and a half after the doctor happened to be where the 
menagerie was and went to see the elephant. She looked at 
him for awhile, then she reached out her trunk first on his 
shoulders and then on his hair, and then raised up her foot, 
which was then well, and showed it to him, for she remembered 
him and expressed her gratitude in that way. 



HEROES AND GREATHEAKTS 171 

SAVING MOTHER. 

The fanner sat in his easy chair. 

Between the fire and the lamp light's glare ; 

His face was ruddy and full and fair. 

His three small boys in the chimney's nook 

Conned the lines of a picture book ; 

His wife, the pride of his home and heart, 

Baked the biscuit and made the tart, 

Laid the table and steeped the tea. 

Deftly, swiftly, silently; 

Tired and weary and weak and faint, 

She bore her trials without complaint, 

Like many another household saint — 

Content, all selfish bliss above. 

In the patient ministry of love. 

At last, between the clouds of smoke 

That wreathed his lips, the husband spoke : 

"There are taxes to raise, an' interest to pay — 

And if there should come a rainy day, 

'Twould be mighty handy, I'm bound to say. 

To have sumptin' put by; for folks must die 

An' there's funeral bills and gravestones to buy — 

Enough to swamp a man, purty nigh : 

Besides, there's Edw^ard and Dick and Joe 

To be provided for when we go. 

So 'f I were vou, I'll tell vou what I'd do : 



172 HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 

I'd be savin' of wood as ever I could — 
Extry fires don'f do any good ; 
I'd be savin' of soap and savin' of ile, 
And run up candles once in a while ; 
I'd be rather sparin' of coffee and tea, 
For sugar is high 
And all to buy ; 

And cider is good enough drink for me; 
And I'd be kind o' careful 'bout my clo'es, 
And look out sharp how the money goes — 
Gewgaws is useless, nater knows; 
Extry trimmin' 
'S the bane of wimmen. 
I'd sell off the best of the cheese and iioney. 
And eggs is as good nigh about's the money; 
And as to the carpet you wanted new, 
I guess we can make the old one du. 
And as to the washer and sewin' machine — 
Them smooth-tongued agents, so pesky mean, 
You'd better get rid of 'em slick and clean. 
What do they know about woman's work — 
Do they calkilate women was born to shirk?" 
Dick and Edward and little Joe 
^at in the corner in a row. 
/ They saw the patient mother go 
On ceaseless errands to and fro; 



HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 173 

They saw that her form was l)ent and thin, 
Her temples gray, her cheeks sunk in ; 
They saw the quiver of lip and chin : 
And then with a wrath he could not smother, 
Out f^poke the youngest, frailest brother : 
"You talk of savin' wood and ile. 
And tea and sugar, all the while: 
But you never talk of savin' mother !'' 

— Author unknoivn. 

THE STORY OF THE LITTLE WHITE KITTEN. 

A little white kitten once lived, in company with its black 
and white mother and two tiny black brothers, up in the hay- 
loft of a doctor's barn. They were a happy family and the 
mother cat loved her little ones, dearly. She took great pride in 
their tidy appearance, washing them thoroughly several times a 
day, often remarking that even her black kittens must be spot- 
lessly clean. The wonder was that she did not wear her rough 
tongue smooth in her untiring eifort to keep the children clean. 

One day at a meeting of the neighborhood club, held on the 
doctor's back-yard fence, Mrs. Gray, a drab-colored tabby, at- 
tempted to persuade Mrs. Black-White that it would be wise for 
her to find a nice place in a private home for herself and kittens 
— a household where there would be dear little children to 
fondle and feed them. 

"As for me and my family," said the gray cat, "-we have a 
delightful home; we are provided with a large and comfortable 



174 HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 

basket placed behind the kitchen stove, and we always have milk 
in our bowl. Best of all, my mistress has seven lovely children, 
all of whom play with and love and care for us. It is a shame, 
;Mrs. Black- White, that you should keep your beautiful babies 
hid away in a haymow. They might as well be out of the 
world." 

Mrs. Black- White listened respectfully until Mrs. Gray had 
finished, as a well-bred cat should do, replying in a low, good- 
natured purr that she might be mistaken, but she was still of 
the opinion that her family were well off where they were. 

"I have no thought of neglecting their education because I 
have chosen a secluded, quiet spot in which to dwell,'^ said Mrs. 
Black-White. "Indeed, I am planning now to take them in the 
spring on a hunting expedition through the woods and fields 
that they may know something of the haunts of their ancestors 
and become educated cats through travel. They are already 
having daily lessons in polite deportment and soon will begin 
special work in domestic mousing. Their father was a famous 
mouser, and I shall want them to acquire his skill." 

The conversation ended here, and Mrs. Black- White returned 
home to her kittens, one of which jumped out at her from behind 
the door in mischief, sticking her cold, moist, pink little nose 
right into her mother's face, which made the dignified old cat 
sneeze, after which puss frisked off to play with a wisp of hay. 

When Mr. "Bobby" Burns said, "The best laid schemes o' 
mice and men gang aft a-gley," he was not, perhaps, aware that 



HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 175 

it applied quite as well to the plans of eats as to those of mice 
or men. The very next day Mrs. Black- White had cause to know 
that she could not carry out her well-laid plans, at least as far as 
one member of her family was concerned, for a surprising thing 
happened which quite changed the fortunes of the little white 
kitten. 

Mrs. Black- White had gone to see a neighbor cat, leaving the 
children asleep on the hay, when the white kitten was wakened 
by hearing the barn door creak on its hinges. Curious to know 
who had entered below, she crawled to the very edge of the mow 
and could just see the stable boy rolling out the doctor's car- 
riage when, suddenly, she lost her balance and fell head over 
lieels from the loft right on to the back seat of the carriage. 
She cuddled down in a frightened ball ; the horse was harnessed 
to the carriage; the doctor jumped in and, seating himself and 
lacking up the reins, started to drive off down the avenue, x^ifter 
a short drive the doctor stopped, tied his horse and started up 
the walk leading to a big white house. The kitten followed, and 
when the door of the house was opened to admit the doctor, in 
walked the white kitten, too. 

In a beautiful room on a small white bed lay a pale-faced, 
sick little boy, whom the doctor said was very ill. While the 
child's mother and the physician were talking together, the white 
kitten sprang on to the boy's bed, which caused him for the 
first time in many days to open wide his big blue eyes and burst 
into a merry little laugh as he held out his arms to the dear little 



176 HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 

cat. When the others saw the cat it was their turn to laugh and, 
indeed, it was enough to make them laugh for very joy to see 
what good cheer the kitten had brought. "V^Tiere she had come 
from no one knew; nor how welcome she was, could anyone tell 
Both mother and doctor agreed that the kitten had been the best 
kind of medicine, and the child soon recovered and the kitten 
became his adopted and much-loved playmate. 

— Adapted from Our Animal Friends. 



1 would not give much for that man's religion which does 
not reach out to his horse or his dog. 

—Rowland Hill. 



HEEOES AND GREATHEAETS 177 

THE LITTLE BOBIN-EEDBBEASTS. 

Two robin-redbreasts built their nest 

AVithin a hollow tree; 
The hen sat quietly at home, 

The cock sang merrily; 
And all the little young ones said, 

"Wee-wee ! wee-wee ! wee-wee !^' 

One day the sun was warm and bright, 

And shining in the sky ; 
Cock Robin said, "My little dears, 

'Tis time you learned to fly." 
And all the little ones said, 

"I'll try ! I'll try ! I'll try !" 

I know a child, and who she is 

I'll tell 3^ou by-and-by, 
^Tien mamma says "do this" or "that," 

She says "What for ?" and "why" ? 
She'd be a better child by far 

If she would say, "I'll try." 

— Selected. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 179 

UNCLE PHIL'S STORY. 

"Tell us a. story, Uncle Phil/' said Eob and Archie, running 
to him. 

"What about?" said Uncle Phil, as Eob climbed on bis ria'ht 
knee and Archie on his left. 

"Oh, about something that happened to you," said Eob. 

"Something when you were a little bo}^/' said Archie. 

"Once when I was a little boy/' said Uncle Phil, "I asked my 
mother to let Eoy and myself go out and play by the river." 

"Was Eoy your brother?" asked Eob. 

"^0, but he was very fond of playing with me. My mother 
said yes ; so we went and had a great deal of sport. After a while 
I took a shingle for a boat and sailed it along the bank. At last 
it began to get into deep water, where I couldn't reach it with a 
stick. Then I told Eoy to go and bring it to me. He almost 
always did what I told him, but this time he did not. I 1:)egan 
scolding him, and he ran toward home. 

"Then I was angry. I picked up a stone and threw it at bim 
as hard as I could." 

"Oh, Uncle Phil !" cried Archie. 

"Just then Eoy turned his head and it struck him." 

"Oh, Uncle Phil !" cried Eob. 

"Yes, he gave a little cry and lay down on the ground. 

"But I was still angry with him. T did not go to him. but 
waded into the water for my boat. 

"But it was deeper than I thought. Before I knew it I was 



180 HEEOBS AND GREATHEARTS 

in a strong current. I screamed as it carried me down the 
stream, but no men were near to help me. 

"But as I went down under the deep waters, something took 
hold of me and dragged me towards shore. It was Eo3\ He 
saved my life.^' 

'^Good fellow ! Was he your cousin ?" asked Roh. 

"No/' replied Uncle Phil. 

"What did you say to him T' asked Archie. 

"I put my arms around the dear fellow's neck and cried and 
asked him to forgive me.'' 

"What did he say?" asked Eob. 

"He said ^Bow, wow, wow !' " 

"Why, who was Roy, anyway?" asked Archie, in great aston- 
ishment. 

"He was my dog," said Uncle Phil ; "the best dog I ever saw. 
I have never been unkind to a dog or to any other animal since, 
and I hope you will never be." 

— Sydney Day re. 



HEKOES AND GREATHEAETS 181 

SIMON aBUB'S DREAM. 

The text was this : "Inasmuch as ye 
Have done it to these, ye have done it to me/' 
Soon Simon slept, for 'twas sultry weather, 
And the dream and the sermon went on together. 

He dreamed that he died, and stood at the gate 
Of the outer court, where the angels wait 
For those who hear the glad "Well done," 
And can enter the realms of the Holy One. 

While Simon waited, and wondered if he 

Had forgotten the password, or lost the key, 

A voice above him said, loud and clear, 

"Do you know you must bring your witnesses here" ? 

"Of witnesses there are many,'' said he, 
"My brethren and neighbors will all speak for me," 
But the brethren and neighbors came not near, 
And he heard only a whinny, familiar and clear. 

And old Gray Foot, the horse, stood just at his right, 
While around on the other side, just coming in sight. 
Was a crowd of dumb creatures so forlorn and so poor. 
That the angel wept as he opened the door. 



182 . HEROES AND GEEATHEAETS 

Then Simon grew pale and, trembling with fear, 
Said, "Oh ! why are not some of the brethren here ? 
Pray wait, pray wait, they^ll surely come." 
Twas Gray Foot that spoke then, and Simon was dumb 



''On wintry nights I've stood in my stall. 

When the cold winds blew through the cracks in the wall, 

Till every joint and sinew and bone 

Seemed frozen and dead as the coldest stone. 



"I've shivered the dreary time away. 
With only some of the poorest hay, 
Then put to work with shout and blow. 
So hungry and faint I could scarcely go. 



Then old Brinclle came, and with soft brown eyes ■ 

Fixed on her master in sad surprise, ' 

Told a pitiful tale of starvation and cold, \ 
And how he had sold her food for gold. 



The poor sheep told their story, too, 
Of bitter wrongs their whole life through ; 
Turned out in cold and stormy weather. 
To starve and freeze and cry together. 



HEEOES AND GKEATHEAKTS 183 

They were lowly cries, but they turned to prayer, 

And, floating upward, had rested there, 

Close by the ear of Him who says, 

"I will hear the cries of my poor always." 

The old house dog, though treated ill, 
Came near, and fawned on his master still. 
Because the love those dumb things know 
Is more than human, more faithful, more true. 

Then conscience woke like some torpid thing 
That is brought to life by the sun in spring, 
And lashed and stung him like poisoned thongs, 
As memory brought him his train of wrongs. 
Forgetting nothing of word or deed, 
Of cruel blows or selfish greed. 

He cruelly treated friends that were dumb, 
Would they follow him on through ages to come ? 
Must he see them forever, gaunt, hungry and cold ? 
For "Time and eternity never grow old." 

How oft in dumb pleading they^d ask a caress 
From hands that had beaten them ! Ah ! yes. 
He remembered it all, and it stung him to know^ 
That when they craved love, they were given a blow. 



184 HEEOES AND GREATHEARTS 



Oh ! could he live over the life that was past, 

And leave out its sins, to stand here at last 

With a soul that was white, for a happier fate ! 

Was it conscience that whispered, "Too late ! too late" ? 



He'd cruelly passed over life's narrowing track, 
Till remorse claimed its own — for that never turns back 
And sins scarce remembered, remembered too late, 
Grew black as he saw them from heaven's barred gate. 



'Twas in vain that he strove to speak, to say 
Those sweet old words, "Forgive, I pray," 
Sin's last cry ; he was silent there ; 
He was dumb with such woeful need of prayer. 



Then voices seemed floating on every breeze : 
"Ye did it to these. Ye did it to these. 
Go hence, be homeless, go starve and freeze; 
Ye did it to these. Ye did it to these. 



"And when you are faint and weary with woe, 

You will still hear the shout, you will still feel the blow. 

While a voice from which you'll never be free 

Will whisper beside you, *Ye did it to me.' " 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 185 

But hark ! What melody over him rolls ? 
Do the angels sing requiems over lost souls? 
His last hope has fled. In an agony new 
He awoke — to find himself in his pew. 

What his dumb friends thought, none ever knew, 
When food was plenty and blows were few ; 
But the teacher who follows us ever, it seems, 
Gives his strongest lessons, sometimes, in dreams. 

— Western Humane Journal. 



They are slaves who fear to speak 

For the fallen and the weak ; 

They are slaves who will not choose 

Hatred, scoffing, and abuse 

Rather than in silence shrink 

From the truth they needs must think; 

They are slaves who dare not be 

In the right with two or three. 

— Lowell. 



HEEOES AND GKEATHEAETS 187 

SIR WALTER SCOTT. 

Sir Walter Scott was one of the most beloved poets and story 
writers of Scotland. He was called the "Wizard of the North/' 
))ecause it seemed as if he could think back hundreds of years 
and picture to us how the people lived and what they did in 
those olden times. 

He dearly loved horses and dogs, and one of the greatest 
delights of his life was his companionship with these dumb 
creatures. 

. For a time he served in the Cavalry Militia and ever}- morning 
he would visit his horse and feed him from his own hands. 

His biographer says, "As to the dogs, whether it were Camp, a 
bull terrier, and long a special favorite, or Douglas and Percy, 
his gray hounds, or noble ^laida, his stag hound, whose monu- 
ment still attracts the notice of the visitor as he enters the hall 
at Abbotsford — for all these in succession, and the countless ter- 
riers, their contemporaries, a window of his study always stood 
open, by which they might pass to and fro as the humor took 
them." 

During his last illness he loved to have his dogs lick his hands 
and show their affection for him. 



188 HEKOES AND GREATHEARTS 

THE HORSE, THE DOG AND THE MAN. 
The horse and the dog had tamed a man and fastened him to a 

fence; 
Said the horse to the dog, "For the life of me, I don't see a bit 

of sense 
In letting him have the thumbs that groAv at the sides of his 

hands, do you?" 
And the dog looked solemn and slowly said: "I cannot say 

that I do." 

The poor man groaned and tried to get loose, and sadly he 

begged them, "Stay ! 
You will rob me of things for which I have use by cutting my 

thumbs away ! 
You will spoil my looks, you will cause me pain! Ah, why 

should you treat me so? 
As I am God made me, and He knows best ! Oh, masters, pray 

let me go !" 

The dog laughed out and the horse replied: "Oh, the cutting 

won't hurt you ! You see 
We'll have a hot iron to clap right on, as you did in your 

docking of me! 
God gave you your thumbs and all, but still the Creator, you 

/know, may fail 
To do the artistic thing, as He did in furnishing me with a tail !" 



HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 189 

So they bound the man and cut off his thumbs and were deaf to 

his pitiful cries, 
And the}^ seared the stumps and they viewed their work through 

happy and dazzled eyes : 
"How trim he appears/' the horse exclaimed, "since his awkward 

thumbs are gone ! 
For the life of me I cannot see why the Lord ever put them on !" 



"Still, it seems to me," the dog replied, "that there's something- 
else to do ; 

His ears look rather too long for me, and how do they look to 
you?" 

The man cried out : "Oh, spare my ears ! God fashioned them, 
as 3^ou see. 

And if you apply your knife to them you'll surely disfigure me !" 



"But you didn't disfigure me, you know," the dog decisively said. 

"When you bound me fast and trimmed my ears down close to 
the top of my head !" 

So they let him moan and they let him groan while they cropped 
his ears away. 

And they praised his looks when they let him up, and proud in- 
deed were they! 



190 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

But that was years and years ago, in an "unenlightened age ! 
Such things are ended now, you know ; we have reached a higher 

stage ! 
The ears and thumbs God gave to man are his to keep and wear, 
And the cruel horse and dog look on and never appear to care I 

—S.E.Kisfv. 



THE BAD BOYS AND THE KITTEN. 

A kind-hearted wonian was taking a walk not long ago not 
far from the John B. Drake School on Calumet Ave. in Chicago. 
As she passed along she noticed a number of boys on a vacant 
lot who were talking loud and fast and seemed to be very much 
excited. 

She thought she would see what interested them so much and 
when she reached them she found that the}^ had a poor forlorn 
kitten, which they had found somewhere, and they were about 
to Imry it alive in a hole which they had already dug. The mis- 
erable little creature was a pitiable sight. Its ribs could be 
plainly seen and it mewed so plaintively, as if to beg mercy from 
its tormentors. 

The lady was shocked to think that any boys could be so 
cruel as to think for a moment of burying a poor little kitten 
alive and tried to persuade them not to do it. But they were 
-0 hard hearted that they had no pity and would not give up 
their plan. 



HEEOES AND GREATHEAETS 191 

After talking with them some time she finally induced them 
to let her have the kitten and so saved its life. She then sent 
it to some friends of hers in the country, who cared for it so 
well that it soon became a fine looking cat and the pet of the 
family. 

What kind of men do you think those cruel boys will make 
when they grow up? If they do not mend their ways they 
will make the men who beat their wives and children, and fill our 
prisons. 



BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL. 

I heard a voice through leafy coverts ringing, 

"My peaceful home is here ; 
I fold my wings over my tender nestlings, 

At night I feel no fear ; 
But when the day is bright and glad around me. 

And I would venture from my hidden nest, 
My mother-heart with dread and fear is crying, 

^Do not my home molest I 
Be merciful to me 
If thou wouldst blessed be.^ " 

I saw a child rest on his mother's bosom, 

So warm and close and dear : 
In loving arms the mother gently held him 

Safe from all harm and fear. 



192 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

With frightened eyes a starving little kitten 

Peeped through the door, I heard its plaintive cry 
"I am bereft of mother-love and comfort, 
Oh, help me or I die ! 

Be merciful to me 

If thou wouldst blessed be." 

I heard a voice, heartrending in its pathos, 

A voice so clear and strong. 
It told me of a faithful love unequaled, 

As firm as life is long. 
Stronger than man's, because unselfish, patient, 

A love that naught but death itself could still. 
It was a dog, neglected, starved, forsaken, 

Yet pleading for good will : 
"Be merciful to me 
If thou wouldst blessed be." 

I saw a horse plod o'er the dusty highway 

With toiling step and slow; 
His fading eyes and drooping head asked mercy, 

He got instead a blow. 
And as he struggled on his weary Journey 

With painful effort faithful to the end, 
I seemed to hear an inward voice repeating, 

"Who will this message send? 



HEEOES AND GEEATHEAETS 193 

Be merciful to me 

If thou wouldst blessed be/' 

And then, far off, I heard a chorus singing, 

Sweet voices in the sky. 
I prayed the crowd to stay awhile and listen, 

They paused, and then passed by : 

:is :;: H« * * ♦ -I< 

"Blessed are the merciful, blessed are the merciful, 

For they, for they shall mercy receive. 
Inasmuch as ye did it to the least of these 

Ye did it unto Me. 
To the least of these, to the least, the least of these." 

— ^. H. 8. 



There^s no dearth of kindness 

In this world of ours; 
Only in our blindness 

We gather thorns for flowers ! 
Onward we are spurning, 

Trampling one another! 
While we are only yearning 

At the name of "Brother." 

— Gerald Massey. 



194 HEEOES AND GEEATHEAETS 

HOW THE CHINESE TREAT ANIMALS. 

Although we know more about the Chinese people than we did 
years ago, yet we are finding out more and more all the time. 

A gentleman traveled on horseback through a part of China, 
and he tells us that the Chinese people are very kind to animals. 
They do not whip and lash their mules and ponies as many cruel 
men do with us when they get angry, but they are kind and 
patient even with the bad tempered mules until they become 
tame and obedient. 

He said that he never saw a runaway mule or pony 
in the hands of a Chinaman, but the animals will work 
cheer f idly and keep a good pace over good and bad roads, and 
are ready to do all they can to please their masters. They turn 
them to the right or left by a "turr" or "chuck" and can do this 
almost without pulling on the lines. He said that he had often 
seen a little boy lead a sheep through a crowded street or alley 
and the whole crowd would follow. He says they care for their 
cattle, pigs and birds just as well. 

About one-fourth of all the people living in the world are 
Chinese — something like four hundred million of men, women 
and children; and if they are all as kind to their animals as this 
traveler describes they act as a fine example, and we surely ousfht 
to trv to do as well as thev. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 195 

THE REAL GOOD. 

"What is the real good?" 

I asked in musing mood. \ 

"Order/' says the law court; j 

"Knowledge," says the school; j 

"Truth/' said the wise man ; | 

"Pleasure/^ said the fool; i 

"Love/' said the maiden; > 

"Beauty/^ said the page ; \ 

"Freedom/' said the dreamer; j 

"Home/' said the sage; j 

"Fame/' said the soldier; i 

"Equity,'' the seer — I 

Spake my heart full sadly : j 

"The answer is not here." ; 

Then, within my bosom, i 

Softly, this I heard : \ 

"Each heart holds the secret — i 

Kindness is the word.'' j 

— John Boyle O'Reilly. I 



196 HEEOES AND GREATHEARTS 

THE CRIPPLE BOY AND THE HORSE. 

The world loves a boy with a kind heart, who is thinking 
how he can remove pain and sorrow and make someone happy. 
In the life of every boy there comes to him almost every day 
some way by which he can make the world a little better. It 
may be nothing but a kind word or a pleasant smile, or a cup 
of cold water to one who is thirsty. 

Some years ago, in Minneapolis, in front of a large building 
in the heart of the city there was a poor little crippled boy who 
used to stand selling papers. Every one who passed by and 
saw him must have felt sorry for him, for he suffered from 
paralysis, so that he had to stand on crutches. 

But this poor boy, although he was not beautiful to look at, 
and never would be anything but a hopeless cripple, had a 
noble heart, ever ready to help the weak and unfortunate. 

One day a loaded wagon was left near where he was standing 
on his crutches selling papers. In some way he saw that the poor 
horse had a raw shoulder and that the collar which pressed 
upon it caused the horse great pain. Some people would have 
stopped a moment and said, "How I pity that poor horse! It 
is a shame that people will be so cruel as to drive a horse with 
raw sores on his shoulders," and then pass on and leave the 
poor horse to his fate, to bear the pain as best he could. 

But the boy did not take that course. He began to look about to 
see how he could relieve the poor animal. Finding nothing 
better, he ripped the cloth and cushion from the top of his 
crutch, and then he tied it on the horse's collar with two 



HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 197 

strings, so as to protect the sore sj^ot. Then he hobbled back 
to his place on his bare crutch and began to sell papers as 
before. 

He did not know it, but he was a prince in disguise and the 
ragged coat which he wore, covered a heart full of sympathy 
even for the friendless suffering beasts. 

— Adapted. 



THE MERCIFUL SPORTSMAN. 

I go a-gunning but take no gun, : 

I fish without a pole; : 

And I bag good game and catch such fish 

As suit a sportsman's soul. 
For the choicest game that the forest holds, ; 

And the best fish of the brook j 

Are never brought down by a rifle shot, I 

And never are caught with a hook. 

I 

I bob for fish by the forest brook, 

I hunt for game in the trees, 
For bigger birds than wing the air 

Or fish that swim the seas. 
A rodless Walton of the brooks, 

A bloodless sportsman, I — ; 

I hunt for the thoughts that throng the woods. 

The dreams that haunt the skv. ^ 

i 



198 HEROES AND GEE ATHE ARTS 

The woods were made for the hunters of dreams, 

The brooks for the fishers of song; 
To the hunters who hunt for the gunless game. 

The streams and the woods belong. 
There are thoughts that moan from the soul of the pine. 

And thoughts in a flower bell curled: 
And the thoughts that are blown with tlie scent of the fern. 

Are as new and as old as the world. 



So, away, for the hunt in the fern scented Avood, 

Till the going down of the sun; 
There is plenty of game still left in the woods 

For the hunter who has no gun. 
So, away, for the fish by the moss bordered brook 

That flows through the velvety sod : 
There are plenty of fish yet left in the stream 

For the angler who has no rod. 

— Sam Walter Foss. 



HEROES AND GEEATHEAETS 199 

THE FAITHFUL HORSE. 

In Philadelphia an old man was leading a thin old horse 
across the commons in the northern part of the city when a 
passer-b}^ asked him where he was going. 

•'I am looking for a little green grass for the poor beast/'' he 
answered. 

"I would send him to the bone yard or the glue factory/' 
said the other with a sneer. 

"Would you?'' asked the old man in a trembling voice; "if 
he had been the best friend you had in the world, and helped 
you to earn food for your family for nearly twenty-five years? 
If the children that are gone, and the children who are living, 
had played with their arms around his neck and their heads 
(jn him for a pillow, when they had no other? Sir, he has 
carried us to mill and to meeting, and please God, he shall 
die like an honorable old horse and I will bury him with these 
old hands. ^N'obocly shall ever abuse old Bill, for if I go before 
him, there are those who are paid to care for him." 

"I beg your pardon,'' said the man who had spoken first. 
"There is a difference in people.'' 

"Yes. and in horses, too," said the old man as he passed on 
witli his four-footed friend. — Adapted, 



200 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

BUILDING OF THE NEST. 

They'll come again to the apple tree, 

Kobin and all the rest, 
When the orchard branches are fair to see 

In the snow of the blossoms drest; 
And the prettiest thing in the world will be 

The building of the nest. 

Weaving it well so round and trim, 

Hollowing it with care ; 
Nothing too far away for him, 

Nothing for her too fair ; — 
Hanging it safe on the topmost limb, 

Their castle in the air. 



So come to the trees with all your train 

When the apple blossoms blow, 
Through the April shimmer of sun and rain 

Go flying to and fro ; 
And sing to our hearts as we watch again 

Your fairy building grow. 

— Margaret E. Sangster in Collier s Weekly. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 201 

THE TAMED BRONCHO. 

There is a kind-hearted gentleman in California, a Mr. Hill, 
who, a short time ago, owned a broncho which he could never 
saddle without first tying, throwing to the ground and blinding. 
As my friend was such a lover of animals and so gentle with 
everything living on his ranch, I asked him why he was so 
severe with the broncho. 

Mr. Hill replied : 

"It is the nature of the brute to be ugly, and we always have 
to rope him before we can do anything with him. It is com- 
mon with bronchos.^' 

I had no doubt he was right, but it seemed a cruel thing to 
keep an animal for use which had to be dealt with so harshly. 
Sometime afterward I was camping near an old log road in 
the mountains near Mr. Hill's ranch. One bright morning I 
heard a clear whistle just as I was building my fire to put on 
the coffee. It came from the road and there I saw a boy of 
about eighteen years coming along with a bridle on his arm. 
He whistled again a few times and then I heard a whinny in 
the distance. Along the road came galloping a fine gray pony 
with ears erect and mane and tail flying in the wind. On he 
came with flashing eyes, as if expecting the greatest pleasure 
of his life. Within a few rods of the boy he slowed down into 
a swinging trot, and then came to a stand where he could rub 
his nose against the shoulder of the boy. 

He arched his neck and pressed it against the boy with a 



202 HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 

low whinny, which could not be mistaken. It meant to say 
to the boy, "I love you.'' 

It is twenty 3^ears since I saw that scene on that bright 
morning, but the memory of it is as fresh in my mind as if it 
w^ere but yesterday. I can taste the very sweetness of the 
mountain air, and the tender blue mist which hung about the 
distant hills is plain to see in memory today, and I can see 
that handsome boy hugging his favorite pony and receiving in 
return all the affection which a loving horse knows how to give. 

I knew the boy well, so asked liim where he got the pony. 

''Out of Hill's drove.'' 

"You don't mean to say he's a broncho ! He is too kind and 
handsome." 

"He is a broncho." 

"How did you ijreak him ? T supposed those fellows always 
had to be roped before they could be ridden." 

"Now^ don't you believe a word of it. The pony is the one 
Mr. Hill has been riding for two years, and every time he 
used him he had to rope him. blind him, pound him and tear 
the ground up with him. But that was because the men who 
handled him did not take time to get his good will. I have 
owned him three months and in all that time I haven't even 
spoken a cross word to him — have I, Dick?" 

This proved to ine that e^en a kind-hearted man may be 
mistaken in regard to what is necessary for a brute. 

/^ — Adapted. 




A CTTTr.D OF SEVEX 



r <> .1 l.'i <li III 1)11 
H. 1 1 null) 



!04 HEEOES AND GREATHEABTS 

A OHIIiD OF SEVEN. 

All the bells of heaven may ring, 
All the birds of heaven may sing, 
All the winds of earth may bring 

All sweet sounds together. 
Sweeter far than all things heard, 
Hand of harper, tone of bird, 
Sound of woods at sundown stirred, 
Welling waters, winsome word, 

Wind in warm, warm weather : 
One thing yet there is, that none, 
Hearing ere its chimes be done, 
Knows not well the sweetest one 
Heard of man beneath the sun. 

Hoped in heaven hereafter; 
Soft and strong and loud and light, 
Very round and very light, 
Heard from morning's rosiest height, 
Where the soul of all delight 

Fills a child's clear laughter. 
. * Golden bells of welcome rolled 

Never forth such notes, nor told 
Hours so blithe in tones so bold 
x\s the radiant mouth of gold, 

Here that rings forth heaven. 
/ If the golden-crested wren 

Were a nightingale, why, then. 



HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 205 

Something seen and heard of men 
Might be half as sweet as when 
Laughs a child of seven. 

— Algernon C. Swinburne. 



SENATOR VEST'S SPEECH ON THE DOG. 

Years ago in Missouri George Vest, who afterwards became 
senator from that state, was engaged to try a suit against a 
man who had shot another man's dog. Here is the closing ad- 
dress he made to the jury: 

"Gentlemen of the Jury : The best friend a man has in this 
world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son 
or daughter, that he has reared with loving care, may prove 
ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, whom 
we trust with our happiness and good name, may become traitors 
to their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It 
flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's 
reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered ac- 
tion. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do 
us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the 
stone of malice when failure settles its clouds upon our heads. 
The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this 
selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that 
never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. 

'^Gentlemen of the jury," the senator continued, "a man's 
dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and 




F. Paton 



HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 207 

sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground when the wintrv 
winds, blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near 
his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to 
offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter 
with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his 
pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends 
desert, he remains. AYhen riches take wings and reputation 
falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its 
journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master 
forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the 
faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompany- 
ing him, to guard against danger, to fight against liis enemies, 
and when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master 
in its embrace and his body is laid aw^ay in the cold ground, no 
matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his grave- 
side will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his 
eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even 
in death." 



208 HEEOES AND GEEATHEABTS 

WHISTLE AWAY. 

Whistle away, my merry boy, 

With happy face and heart of joy; 

If it will help you to be strong, 

Whistle a tune when things are wrong ; 

And whistling lightens it for you 

If e'er your task is hard to do, 

Whether it be sowing seeds, 

Hoeing the com or pulling weeds, . 

Gathering fruit or raking hay. 

Or driving cows— whistle away. 

Whistle a tune, if you can't sing. 

And that should seem the next best thing 

That you can do. Perhaps 'twill cheer 

The hearts of some who chance to hear. 

Better to whistle than to pout 

And scold and fret, no one can doubt ; 

So keep a merry heart, my lad. 

And thus make other people glad; 

Do all the good you can each day. 

And, as you toil, whistle away. 

—Toronto Truth, 



HEEOES AND GREATHEAETS 209 

THE BRAVE KANGAROO. 

In Australia there is a strange animal called the kangaroo, 
It has large, powerful hind legs, but very small front legs. In- 
stead of running, it leaps fifteen or twenty feet at a bound, 
and so can get over the ground very rapidly and can easily out- 
distance a horse or a dog. 

As showing the force of maternal love among the lower 
animals, there are few more pathetic incidents than the fol- 
lowing : 

The owner of a country station was sitting one evening on 
the balcony outside of his house, when he was surprised to 
notice a kangaroo lingering about, alternately approaching and 
retiring from the house, as though half in doubt and fear what 
to do. At length she approached the water-pails, and taking 
a young one suffering from thirst from her pouch, held it to 
the water to drink. 

While her babe was satisfying its thirst the mother was 
quivering all over with excitement, for she was only a few feet 
from the balcony on which one of her great foes was sitting- 
watching her. The little one having finished drinking it was 
replaced in the pouch and the old kangaroo started off at a 
rapid pace. 

When the natural timidity of the kangaroo is taken into 
account, it will be recognized what astonishing bravery this 
affectionate mother betrayed. It is a pleasing ending to the 
story that the eye witness was so affected by the scene, that from 
that time forward he could never shoot a kangaroo. 

— Adapted. 



210 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

USED TO KILL BIRDS. 

I used to kill birds in my boyhood — 

Bluebirds and robins and wrens; 
I hunted them up in the mountains, 

I hunted them down in the glens. 
I never thought it was sinful — 

I did it only for fun — 
And 1 had rare sport in the forest 

With the poor little birds and my gun. 

But one beautiful day in the spring-time 

I spied a brown bird in a tree^ 
Merrily swinging and chirping, 

As happy as bird could be; 
And raising my gun in a twinkling, 

I fired, and my aim was too true, 
For a moment the little thing fluttered, 

Then off to the bushes it flew. 

I followed it quickly and softly; 

And there, to my sorrow, I found. 
Eight close to its nest full of young ones. 

The little bird dead on the ground ! 
Poor birdies ! For food they were calling, 

But now they could never be fed, 

/ For the kind mother-bird who had loved them 

/ 

Was lying there bleeding and dead. 



HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 211 

I picked up the bird in my anguish, 

I stroked the wee mother^ thing 
That could never more feed its dear young one^. 

Xor dart through the air on swift wing. 
And I made a firm vow in that moment, 

When my heart with such sorrow was stirred. 
That never again in my lifetime 

Would I shoot a poor innocent bird ! 

— Boyce's Monthly. 

GEORGE STEPHENSON AND THE MOTHER-BIRD. 

George Stephenson, a Scotsman, was one of the world^s most 
important inventors. He is sometimes spoken of as "the in- 
ventor of the railroad/' Today our country and all civilized 
countries are covered all over with a network of railways. What 
could the world do without them? Perhaps you imagine that 
we must always have had railroads. It does seem so. But 
this George Stephenson is believed to have been the first man 
ever to have thought of a locomotive; at least, the first to make 
and use one. 

There had indeed been a few short railroads; that is, a kind 
of road made with a rail track for Avagons to run on; wagons 
drawn by horses. Watt and others had invented and made 
steam engines, with steam as the motive power. But that was 
what is called a "stationary engine.'' A "traveling engine" was 
quite another thing. And it was Stephenson who had the in- 
ventive wit to think of that. 



212 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

Perhaps you wonder that somebody didn't happen to think 
of this matter of the "traveling engine" and railroads sooner. 
Too bad the world had to wait so long for it. For it was not 
until 1825 that the first railroad was opened, that between 
Stockton and Darlington in England. 

But — lest we forget it — here is the story of Mr. Stephenson 
and his kind and beautiful thought about some little birds, and 
the mother-bird with the broken heart: 

One day he went to an upper room in his house to close a 
window that had been left open for a long time. Two or three 
days afterward, as he was walking by, he noticed a bird dashing 
against the closed window with all its might, as if determined 
to break it. Wondering what the bird wanted, he thought he 
would open the window and see. 

At once the bird flew in and went to a particular corner 
of the room, where, as Mr. Stephenson found, it had its nest. 
The bird, looking at it a moment, fluttered down to the floor 
as if broken-hearted. The little ones in the nest were all dead ! 
They had had nothing to eat for so long. Coming to the nest 
and finding the mother-bird and her four little ones all ap- 
parently dead, his own heart was well-nigh broken. Taking up 
the mother-bird from the floor, he found the worm still in her 
beak which she had struggled so hard to get to them. Holding 
the bird in his strong, gentle hand he tried to revive it, but in 
vain. It was dead. And the great inventor mourned for it 
many a day. 

— Br. Simeon Gilbert . 



HEEOES AND GREATHEARTS 213 

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS. 

But who shall speak for those whose mouths are dumb? 

The poor, brave brutes, with patient eyes, and feet that go and 

come 
To do our bidding, toiling on without reward or fee. 
Wearing their very lives away, poor things, for you and me ; 
The brave dumb things ! no voice have they to say, "Why do 

ye so? 
Am I not man^s most faithful slave, his friend and not his foe ? 
Give me one kind, caressing word, undo this heavy load, 
N"or torture me along the way with whip and thong and goad." 

THE OBLIGING DOG. 

Prince was a large shepherd dog that was very much attached 
to his master^s horses and spent nearly all his time with them 
either in the stable or pasture. One day two of these horses 
were turned out in a small field for exercise. 

On the other side of one of the fences was a nice bundle of 
cornstalks which had fallen from a load the day before. The 
horses saw it, and stretched their necks over the fence to reach 
it, but could not. 

Prince was there with his horse friends, as usual, and soon 
took in the situation. 

He then trotted off to a place where one of the lower fence 
boards was missing, and then he went back to the bundle of 
stalks and dragged it to the hole in the fence and pulled it 
through. 



214 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

Of course the horses were highly pleased with this arrange- 
ment and began to eat the stalks at once, while Prince stood by 
panting, but wagging his tail, and was as well pleased as the 
horses. 

This is a true story, and it shows that good people are not 
the only ones who are kind and obliging to each other. 

— Adapted. 



RING THE BELLS IN YOUE STEEPLES. 

Eing, bells, once again in your steeples ! 

And tell the old story again; 
The beautiful hope for the dying, 

The balm to the spirit in pain; 
The help to the feeble that stumble, 

The pardon to sinners that fall; 
But, ah ! for the ''dumb, driven cattle" 
Ring dearest of all! 

For man can cry out in his trouble, 
And tear-drops may heal as they tiow. 

But they in sad silence must suffer. 
With never a voice for their woe; 

In cold of the pitiless winter. 
In heats of a mid-summer sun. 

There's never an end to their labor 
Till life's work is done. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 215 

Dear bells, as you swing in your steeples, 

Above all the jar of the earth, 
Sing low of the ox hy the manger. 

Afar in the place of His birth; 
And sing of the sheep on the hill-sides, 

The poor, patient ass in his stall; 

Of all weary beasts that must perish, 

Sing clearest of all. 

Oh, man ! looking up to the Father ! 

With trust in His infinite grace, 
Look down, in your turn, on His creatures, 

That know but the light of your face, 
. That know but the warmth of your loving, 

That ivince at a word or a hlotv; 
Ah ! all of the depths of their anguish 
No mortal may hiiow. 

— Mary Riddell Corley. 



WADE HAMPTON AND HIS CAT. 

Wade Hampton, a prominent officer in the Confederate army 
during the Civil W^ar, was noted for his daring exploits. He 
afterwards became governor of South Carolina, his native state. 

Before his election he had an immense Maltese cat named 
Tom, which measured three feet from the tip of his nose to 
the end of his tail. Tom was his constant companion, and 



216 HEKOES AND GREATHEARTS 

after Mr. Hampton became governor, was with him when he 
took his daily walks. 

Sometimes the governor would go ont on horseback, but this 
made no difference to Tom, for he would trudge along at the 
horse's side, perfectly satisfied so long as he could "keep up," 
or even keep his master in sight. 

When Mr. Hampton was elected governor it was a serious 
blow to Tom, for he could not be with his master all day as 
before. He adapted himself to the situation after a time by 
escorting his master to the gate in the morning and each after- 
noon he would go to the gate again a little before the time when 
the governor would return, and wait for him. 

At one time the governor met with an accident and was 
brought home severely injured. His condition was so serious 
that strict orders were given that no one should be admitted 
to see him, but it was not long before Tom was allowed to 
enter the sick room and became a sympathizing attendant. 

— Adapted. 

THE HORSE'S PRAYER. 

In a country church on a winter night 

There was warmth and cheer, and a brilliant light 

Shone from the chandeliers in ruddy glow 

On the faces bright of the crowd below. 

All were warmly clad in their winter^s dress^ 
/ With a carpet soft for their feet to press. 



HEKOES AND GEEATHEAETS 217 

When the pastor knelt and in silent prayer 
Asked the Father's aid and protecting care, 

Fell a sacred hush — for a form divine 
Seemed to hover now by that hallowed shrine. 
With a thankful joy was his warm heart thrilled 
x\s he rose and glanced o'er the house well filled. 

And he offered thanks that their hearts were right, 
As their presence proved on that winter night. 
They had braved the blast and the stinging cold 
For the sacred courts of the sheltering fold. 

For his text he chose Matthew five and seven, 
"To the merciful shall mercy be given.^' 
And he proved on earth such would blessing gain 
And the final rest of the blest obtain. 

Then they sang, "Praise God whence all blessings flow. 
And all creatures join in His praise below." 
In the snow — outside — ivliere the wind bleiv cold. 
Stood a poor old horse with no sheltering fold. 

Does the poor old horse thus the penance pay 
For the sins of men while they praise and pray : 
Through the summer's heat and the winter's chill, 
As he faithfully serves his master's will? 

— ^. J. Stevens. 




LOUIS AQASSIZ 



HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 219 

LOXnS AGASSIZ. 

Have you never wolKlered how we can know so much about 
animals, fishes, birds and insects? How do men find out so 
much about them — their ways of life, and what we call their 
instincts ? 

There are men who seem to be born for the purpose of finding- 
out these things and then telling us what they have learned. 

Louis Agassiz was one of these, for when he was a little child 
he began to take delight in birds and beasts, fishes and insects, 
and he felt toward them as if they were his friends. 

When he was a little older he was never so happy as when 
tramping the fields or searching along the banks of a lake or 
stream to find some new creature. When he was in college he 
was familiar with every beast, knew the different kinds of birds 
from hearing their songs when far away, and could give the 
names of all the fishes in the water. 

He was very fond of pets, and at one time had ahout forty 
birds in his room, which made their home in a small pine tree, 
which he had set up in one corner. 

He started in the world as a poor boy, but he became one of 
the most learned men of his time. He made known to us a 
great many things about the world we live in and the creatures 
who live in it, that we did not know before. 

He had also a noble character and was as good as he was 
great. 



220 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

THE STORY OF WILSON'S BRONCO. 

FOUNDED ON A RECENT OCCURRENCE IN CALIFORNIA. 

The night was heavy and hot and dry, 
With scarce a star in the sultry sky, 
For Santa Monica^s mountain knew 
No rain for long and no freshening dew. 
My little bronco, my pet and pride, 
I fed and watered, and safely tied. 
And, all alone in my cabin, fell 
Asleep. 



Not day ! 'twas a flaming hell 
I saw when waking — the woods ablaze 
With smoke that stifles and flame that plays; 
Near, nearer now, as I reached my door 
They roared all round me. One chance, no more ! 



I seized my blanket, and soaked it through 
In yonder bucket — half wrung, 'twill do ! 
Now, Don, my mustang, no mountain deer 
More fleet and nimble — brave boy, come here ! 
The blanket over his head I flung, 
Just space to see and to breathe, and swung 
Myself, half scorched, on his back, grasped tight 
His bridle — quickly he guessed aright. 



HEEOES AND GEEATHEAKTS 221 



Across our way spread the flaming wall, 
Trees, grass and thickets were blazing all. 



Safety at last in sight ! 
Now Don went slower, with panting breath, 
And I felt faint from that fight with death. 
We gained the house, and they said Don earned 
A hero's medal — his legs all burned. 
And sides scorched sorely — yet when I took 
His blanket off, such a loving look 
Beamed on me out of liis 'bright brown eye : 
It made me long like a child to cry. 
I'm crying now, while the tale I tell, 
But Don, thank heaven, will soon be well, 
And I shall, too, and my mustang still 
Shall be my darling, and have his fill, 
And ne'er be sold while I live to care 
For one who loved me, nor feared to dare 
That flaming gallop. 
A hero this horse of mine 
I think may count for, though ne'er a line 
Of stirring ballad may be his share; 
Just these plain words for his love and care. 

— Ursula Tannenfo rf< t . 



222 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

THE STORY OF RAGGLES, THE INDIAN PONY. 

Haggles was a scrubby little Indian pony which' had been 
cruelly turned out on the bare prairie in Western Kansas to 
shift for himself. 

He was a sorry looking little fellow, as he stood one morning, 
shivering in the cold wind, before the gate of a large cattle 
ranch owned by a Mr. Hudson. 

Mr. Hudson noticed him and started to drive him away, but 
his little daughter Lillian said, "Let him in, papa; he looks so 
hungry," and Mr. Hudson opened the gate and he walked in 
as if he were at home. Mr. Hudson made inquiries, but could 
find no owner, so Lillian claimed' him and named him "Raggles," 
because of his long tangled mane and tail. 

He was a docile little creature and Lillian soon learned to 
ride him over the prairies with her father. 

Next fall a public school was started two miles away and 
every day Lillian would ride Haggles to the school and then 
send him home. About half-past three in the afternoon, Mr. 
Hudson would saddle him and send him for Lillian. If he got 
to the school too early he would wait patiently at the door till 
it was out. 

In the year 1885 there was a terrible blizzard in that country, 
when many people lost their lives and many thousands of cattle 
were frozen to death. This was the time that Lillian was at- 
tending the school. 

The storm began at noon, and it became terribly cold. The 
snow blew so thick and fast and the air was so filled with blind- 



HEEOES AND GREATHEAETS 223 

ing particles that men could see only a few feet, and some were 
lost and frozen to death while trying to get from their barns 
back to their houses. 

Mrs. Hudson was afraid to trust Ruggies to go for Lillian, 
but Mr. Hudson was ill and there was no one else to go. She 
went to the barn, put the saddle on him and tied on plenty of 
warm wraps. Then she threw her arms around his sliaggy neck 
and told him to be sure to bring Lillian home. 

He seemed to understand and trotted off in the direction of 
the school house. 

An hour passed slowly to the waiting parents. When two 
hours had passed their anxiety was terrible, but soon after the 
shaggy form of Haggles was seen through the blinding snow, 
with Lillian safely on his back, bundled up from head to foot. 

The teacher had fastened her on the pony and given Eaggles 
the rein, and with wonderful intelligence and endurance he had 
battled his way through the storm, and Lillian was no worse 
for her ride except for being thoroughly chilled. 

'. E. Stevens; Adapted from Our Dumb Animals. 



224 HEKOES AND GEEATHEAETS 

WHAT A SOLDIEE DID. 

A TRUE INCIDENT OF THE WAR. 

'Twas at the battle of Eesaea, 

In Georgia's fair domain, 
And the gra}^ and the blue were in deadly strife, 

And the bullets were falling like rain. 

They were near a deserted southern home, 
Whence the people had fled in fear; 

Forgetting the dear little tri-colored cat, 
Which still by its home, lingered near. 

But lonely and hungry and frightened now, 

It uttered a pitiful cry ; 
In a moment of silence it fell on the ear 

Of the boys in blue near by. 

And a soldier brave, with pity heard 
That plaintive, beseeching "mew," 

For a tender as well as a loyal heart 
Beat under that coat of blue. 

With no thought of the danger or risk of life, 
Of the terrible rain of shot, 
X The roar of the cannon and burst of shell. 
He heard but heeded not. 



HEROES AND GREATHEABTS i 

But springing over the sheltering pile 

Of rails that hid him from view. 
He rescued the poor little trembling thing, 

And 1)ack to his post he flew. 

And when the noise of the battle ceased. 

The kitten went with them away; 
And many a weary hour she beguiled 

With her antics and graceful play. 

Do you say ^twas an act of little note 

To rescue a worthless cat? 
Yet the angels, I tliinlc, looked doivn that day 

On no manlier deed than that. 

—H. M. Haight. 



226 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

HENRY M. STANLEY AND THE CAT. 

Henry M. Stanley became a famous man by making a daring 
journey to the heart of Africa. The hardships and dangers he 
went through are beyond description, for he traveled through 
long distances of swamps and forests, where white men are in 
great danger of dying- from fevers and other diseases. 

Some parts of the country were occupied by savages, wlio 
tried to kill him and his men, and, but for his brave spirit, he 
never would have come back alive. They had to travel on foot 
for many hundreds of miles, and all their food, their supplies 
and their guns had to be carried on men's backs. His carriers 
were natives, whom he hired. Sometimes these men would not 
obey him, but turned against him, and then he was in great 
danger of his life, but his bold spirit quelled them and carried 
him through. 

Upon his return he went to London and wrote a book called 
"Through the Dark Continent." We never fully appreciate our 
homes until we go away from them and find out how much they 
mean to us. After Stanley had been away from his home, 
going through all kinds of discomfort, he finally returned and 
enjoyed it more than ever before. 

When writing his book he had to draw a good many maps 
and charts, which he used to spread out upon the floor. 

A cat which belonged to the house took a great liking to Mr. 
Stanley because he used to pet her, and after a time she became 
his constant companion. One day the cat curled upon one of 
these charts and went to sleep. 



HEEOES AND GEEATHEAETS 227 

Soon, when Mr. Stanley wanted to use the chart and his as- 
sistant was about to drive out poor puss, Mr. Stanley stopped 
him, saying, "Don't disturb the cat; we can get on without the 
chart until she wakes up. If you only knew how good the sight 
of that English cat, cosily curled up before a fire, is to me, you 
would not wish to have her move." So puss slept on. 

After having lived amongst wild and savage tribes of men, 
amid sights very often brutal and shocking, the very opposite 
of those in refined and cultivated England, the sight of that 
cat resting so comfortably before the hearth gave him a sense 
of peace, quiet and happiness. How different was Mr. Stanley 
from the cruel people who, when they move from their houses, 
turn their cats out of doors and leave them to starve and to be 
chased by savage dogs and bad boys. 



KING RHOUD AND THE BIRD. 

(A TRUE INCIDENT.) 

A warrior bold was brave King Ehoud, 

But a tender heart had he. 
And he heard one day as he walked through the wood 

A bird moaning piteously; 
"Poor thing ! it is surely in pain !" he cried 

To his courtier standing by. 
"Perchance that may be !" the earl replied. 

"But no time for birds have I V 
Then, without a word, the lithe young king 



228 HEEOES AND GREATHEARTB 

Climbed up the tree like a boy, 
And rescued the bird with the drooping wing, 
And carried it home with joy. 



'Twas in time of war, and throughout the land ! 

Bold traitors were plotting how ! 
They could wrest the sceptre from Ehoud^s strong hand ! 

And snatch the crown from his brow ; ; 

And that very day, 'neath the palace wall, | 

Two wicked villains had said ; 

They would let, at night, a loose plank fall ] 

From the ceiling above his head— j 
The while on his couch the monarch slept — 

And crush him to death by the blow. 
But, how it all happened, none except 

Themselves would ever know. \ 

^ ^ ^ ^ \ 

It was late that night when King Khoud sought \ 

His rest, with a conscience clear 

Toward God and man, and never a thought ; 

Of the danger lurking near! i 

And sound had he slept — to waken no more ! — j 

When lo ! in the stillness he heard i 

Again and again, as he heard before \ 

In the woods, the cry of the bird. •; 

"Poor little thing! perchance it may need 1 



HEKOES AND GBEATHEARTS 229 

Fresh water /'^ the monarch said; 

And, tarrying not to do the kind deed, 

He sprang at once from his bed. 

Just then the ceiUng above fell down, 

And the plank crushed the couch below ; 
And all in the palace and all in the town 

Ean aimlessly to and fro; 
For with dread forebodings their hearts were filled 

And swiftly the panic spread, 
When a herald cried, "King Ehoud is killed I 

He is crushed to death in his bed !'' 
But lo ! before them unharmed he stood 

With the bird he had saved that day: 
"Fear not," he said; "our God is good — 

He guards us from ill alway: 
Nor scorns He ever the slightest thing. 

For all may fulfil His word; 
And since a w^ee bird can save a king 

Should the king not save a bird?" 

— Emma E. Brown. 



230 HEEOES AND GBEATHEAETS 

CAREIER PIGEONS. 

Did you ever hear of a pigeon telegraph system? That 
sounds rather curious does it not, but pigeons are very swift on 
the wing, and long before the days of telegraphs and telephones 
many messages were sent great distances by trained carrier 
pigeons. Away back in old Egypt, in the days of the Pharaohs, 
and in the other Oriental countries, these birds were used to 
carry important news. Especially were they used by sea-faring 
men, who carried them on their ships in readiness to convey 
messages back to those at home. The buying and selling of 
carrier pigeons was a very important business in those days. 
There are even inscriptions on some of the old Egyptian monu- 
ments telling of messages received in this way. 

In Greece and Eome, pigeons carried messages. All sorts of 
messages these were too — sometimes friendly notes and again 
most important state dispatches. We read in many books how 
for years these birds were used all over Europe. When I tell 
you that pigeons can travel at the rate of thirty miles an hour, 
and can continue for several hours without rest, you can see 
that in the days when there were no telephones, telegraphs or 
trains, the pigeons were very important helpers of man. 

In olden times, towns were built in Eastern countries as 
stations for the carrier pigeons, and at these places large num- 
bers of birds were kept. They flew back and forth at regular 
times with messages which sometimes were fastened to the leg 
or body of the bird, or to the under part of the wing. These 
messages were always written in a small hand and on very thin 



HEEOES AND GREATHEARTS 231 

paper, so that it could be folded in a tiny package, for if at all 
heavy or bulky it would hinder the ilight of the bird. Does 
this way of sending messages from tower to tower make you 
think of our wireless telegraph system with its towers or poles 
for stations? 

You have heard, I am sure, of Nansen, the great Norwegian 
explorer. When he- left his home near Christiana to explore 
the north-pole regions, he took with him a favorite pigeon, and 
when hundreds of miles away let it go with a message of love 
to his dear family. 

One day Mrs. Nansen heard a picking sound on the window- 
pane, and lo ! there was the favorite dove waiting to be let in. 
How eagerly she opened the window and took in the bird. The 
message told of the safety of her husband. 

In times of war, carrier pigeons have been of great value in 
sending word from one part of the army to another or in send- 
ing messages from those inside a besieged city to friends out- 
side. Sometimes the enemy would use trained hawks to attack 
and injure the pigeons so that they would fall to the ground. 
For this reason several pigeons were often sent out at the same 
time with the same message, so that one would be quite, apt to 
safely reach its destination. Sometimes, too, in order to conceal 
the important message, a code system was used. During the 
siege of Paris, pigeons were regularly sent between Paris and 
Tours. It is stated that two million dispatches were carried 
back and forth in this way. The pigeons were carried out of 
Paris in balloons. 



232 HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 

I am sure some of you are wondering how the pigeons knew 
where to go. Do you think that a pigeon can be trained as 
are dogs and ponies? Not at all, but this is the way: at 
first the bird is taken in a basket or box only a short distance 
from home and freed; the next time, farther, and so on until 
experience and strength have been gained and the birds trained 
to find the way home. 

Their first wish when set free is to get home as soon as pos- 
sible. Straight up in the air they rise to quite a height, swift 
as an arrow from a bow, then circling around three times, get 
their bearings and start off in a direct line for their home. 

Pigeons are very strong on the wing, even flying fast against 
a strong wind. They have great keenness of sight. They can 
see much farther than a person. 

Whenever we think of a dove or pigeon, w^e think of their 
gentleness. Their soft cooings in the dove cote, or on the roof 
of the barn, is soothing and pleasant to hear. They certainly 
are a lesson to us, since, with all their gentleness and courage, 
they have such wonderful endurance and so strong a love of 
home. — Adapted. 



234 HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 

ST. BERNAED DOGS. 

In Europe there is a high range of mountains called the Alps. 
There are a few places where they can be crossed and these are 
called passes. In winter time the roads are often blocked with 
snow and many travelers have lost their lives by reason of the 
deep snow and cold. 

On the top of one of these passes is a monastery called "St. 
Bernard/^ where kind-hearted monks live, and where travelers 
can stop for rest and refreshment. These monks keep large 
dogs which have been named "St. Bernard dogs/' and when 
there is a heavy snow storm and cold weather, they fasten little 
casks of cordial to the necks of the dogs and send them out to 
find travelers who may be lost in the snow and benumbed with 
the cold. 

The dogs are very strong and intelligent, and have saved 
hundreds of lives. Some of these dogs have been brought over 
to our country and look like those shown in the picture. 

In a single year it is said that upwards of twelve hundred 
people were rescued by these dogs. 

SONG OF THE TRAVELLERS OVER THE GREAT ST. BERNARD. 

St. Bernard is a mountain grand 
As any there is in Switzerland : 
And many a legend of it is told. 
How Hannibal with his legions bold 
Came over its pass in the days of old. 
But what care we for that bygone age. 



^iEROES AND OBEATHEAETS 235 

For better subjects our hearts engage 

In the noble monks of St. Bernard, 

Who o'er the snow region keep watch and ward. 

St. Bernard owns a convent old ; 
Its prior and monks are as good as gold ; 
Nine hundred years or more it has stood. 
And noble the deeds of its brotherhood. 
And noble the deeds of its servants good — 
Its servants, the grand old dogs whose name 
All over the world is known to fame, 
Whose service asks no greater reward 
Than the love of the monks of St. Bernard. 

Chorus. 
Then hurrah ! hurrah ! for the noble monks 

And the dogs of St. Bernard, 
Who over the regions of ice and snow 
Keep vigilant watch and ward. 

— Tlie Animal \YorM. London. 



The look of sympathy, the gentle word 
Spoken so low that only angels heard ; 
The secret act of pure self-sacrifice, 
Unseen by men, but marked by angels' eyes, 
These are not lost. 

— Sarah Doudney. 




SIB ISAAC NEWTON 



HEEOES AND GBEATHEARTS 237 

SIR ISAAC NEWTON AND HIS DOG DIAMOND. 

Sir Isaac Newton was one of the most remarkable men who 
ever lived. He revealed the secrets of nature more than any 
other man ever did. The poet, Alexander Pope, in his epitaph 
on him, wrote these lines: 

"Nature and all her works lay hid in night: 
God said, ^Let Newton be,' and all was light.'' 

One day he saw an apple fall from a tree, and it set him to 
thinking what made it fall, and from that little incident he 
worked out and discovered what is called the law of gravitation, 
by which can be explained all the movements of the heavenly 
bodies. 

He made the first reflecting telescope and was the first to 
show that light is a mixture of different colored rays. It would 
take a long time to tell what other wonderful things he found 
out, but he was so modest that at the close of his life he said 
that it seemed as if he were a child, and had been picking a few 
pebbles on the shore, leaving the great sea before him unex- 
plored. 

He had a little dog named Diamond, of which he was very 
fond. 

One day ke left Diamond in a room where he could reach 
some very valuable papers which had cost Sir Isaac many years 
of hard toil to work out. When he came back he found that 
the mischievous little dog, had ruined the papers. It was enough 
to discourage any man when the labor of years was lost, but 
Sir Isaac said calmly, "0, Diamond, you little know what you 



238 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

have done/' and then patiently went to work again for long 
years to make the papers over again. 



"THE BIRDS OF KILLINGWORTH. " 

Think of your woods and orchards without birds ! 

Of empty nests that cling to boughs and beams 
As in an idiot's brain remembered words 

Hang empty 'mid the cobwebs of his dreams ! 
Will hleat of flocks or bellowing of herds 

Make up for the lost music, when your teams 
Drag home the stingy harvest, and no more 
The feathered gleaners follow, to your door? 

What ! would you rather see the incessant stir 
Of insects in the windrows of the hay, 

And hear the locust and the grasshopper 
Their melancholy hurdy-gurdies play? 

Is this more pleasant to you than the whir 
Of meadow lark, and her sweet roundelay, 

Or twitter of little field fares, as you take 

Your nooning in the shade of bush and brake? 

You call them thieves and pillagers; but know 
They are the winged wardens of your farms. 

Who from the cornfields drive the insidious foe. 
And from your harvests keep a hundred harms; 



HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 239 

Evefi the blackest of them all, the crow. 

Benders good service as your man-at-arms, 
Crushing the beetle in his coat of mail 
And crying havoc on the slug and snail. 

— Henry Tf. Longfellow. 



THE SWALLOW'S MESSAGE. 

Francis Thompson was an English poet and writer, and a 
great lover of birds. 

He had a beautiful garden, and in it was a nest of swallows. 
One day in the early autumn he caught one of these swallows 
and fastened to one of its wings a small piece of oiled paper 
on which were written the words, "Swallow, little swallow, I 
wonder where you pass the winter." 

The next spring the swallow came back to its nest in the 
garden at the usual time. Mr. Thompson observed it closely 
and noticed that something was fastened to one of its legs. He 
caught it and found a small piece of oiled paper on which were 
the words, "Florence, at the house of Castellari. Cordial greet- 
ings to the friend in the north." —Adapted. 



HEEOES AND GEEATHEAKTS 241 

THBEE LITTLE KITTENS. 
A FACT. 

Three little kittens, so downj^ and soft, 

Were cuddled up by the fire. 
And two little children were sleeping aloft, 

As cosy as heart could desire; 
Dreaming of something ever so nice — 
Dolls and sugar-plums, rats and mice. 

The night wore on, and the mistress said, 

"I'm sleepy, I must confess, 
x\nd as kitties and babies are safe in bed. 

I'll go to bed, too, I guess." 
She went upstairs, just a story higher. 
While the kittens slept by the kitchen fire. 

"What noise can that be?" the mistress said. 

"Meow! rtieow!" "I'm afraid 
A poor kitty-cat's fallen out of bed ! 

The nice little nest I made!" 
"Meow ! meow !*' "Dear me ! dear me I 
I wonder what can the matter be !" 

The mistress paused on an upper stair, 

For what did she see below? 
But three little kittens, with frightened air, 

Standing up in a row ! 



242 HEEOES AND GREATHEAETS 

With six little paws on the step above, 
And no mother cat to caress or love ! 

Through the kitchen door came a cloud of smoke ! 

The mistress, in great alarm. 
To a sense of danger straightway awoke: 

Her babies might come to harm. 
On the kitchen hearth, to her great amaze, 
Was a basket of shavings beginning to blaze. 

The three little kittens were hugged and kissed. 

And promised many a mouse; 
While their names were put upon honor's list. 

For hadnt they saved a house? 
And two little children were gathered tight 
To their mother's heart ere she slept that night. 

— House and School Visitor 



HEEOES AND GREATHEARTS 243 

THE BXJNDLE WAS I. 

A gentleman, who was the small boy of this true stor}^, related 
this incident: 

"My father," said he, "was very fond of horses and generally 
had from one to five in his stable. Among these was Fan, the 
family horse and pet of all. 

"She was so gentle that I, a little fellow in kilts, was allowed 
to play around her head or heels just as I pleased. 

"One day Fan was hitched up in a wagon and when every- 
thing was ready father jumped in, took the reins and gave the 
word to go. Fan did not move a step, which surprised my 
father very much, as she had always been very willing to go 
before. 

"My father took the whip and lightly touched her, but still 
she did not stir. Then my father got out of patience and gave 
her a sharp stroke, when, to his wonder, he saw her lower her 
head and carefully take hold of a small bundle with her teeth 
and throw it to one side, and then she started off at a brisk trot. 

"As the small bundle proved to be I, you can imagine that 
old Fan was after that petted more than ever." 

— Adapted /Vow Our Dumb Animals. 



244 HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 

GENEBAL CUSTEB AND THE MEADOW LABK. 

Word was given; the bugle blew; 

"Boots and saddles !" it signaled shrill. 
Up and mount ! and each horseman flew * 

Astride his steed with a right good-will. 

Hoofs were pawing and necks were arched; 
Forth from the camp the troopers marched. 

In the plains they rode, where dread 

Lurked with doom in the pampas-grass; 
Many a serpent raised its head, 

Rattling "death" from the tangled mass. 
Many an Indian skulked unseen, 
Spying upon them cruel-keen. 

Not for these would the brave ranks swerve; 

Straight in the line of march they rode. 
He who would soldier must needs preserve 
Heart that harbors no craven bode. 
Into the prairies pressed the band, 
General Custer in command. 

Noon's sun down from the zenith beat. 

Scorching the earth with ruthless rays; 
Over the ground the quivering heat 
Eose and danced in a blinding maze. 
Never a brook or a tree was there 
Serving to cool the fevered air. 



HEEOES AND GKEATHEAETS 245 

Every sound to heartward went; 

Click of hoof or the ring of steel, 
Sudden clank of accoutrement, 
Never a soldier failed to feel ! 

While one step from the beaten course 
Roused to alertness man and horse. 

Gallant Custer rode ahead, 

Guide and chief of a brave command ! 
Arrow-straight his good charger sped, 
Never swerving to either hand. 

Till — a touch! and the faithful steed 
Veered aside in Jus headlong lead. 

What had happened to force their chief 

Out of his pathway? What dread foe? 
He a coward ? 'Twas past belief ! 
Still, his way must troopers go. 
If the General made detour. 
They must follow him, that is sure. 

So each rider, as up he drew 

To the place where his chief had veered, 
Slackened his pace and detour made, too. 
Whilst below in the grass he peered, 
Wondering what he there should see. 
That might baffle the cavalry. 



246 HEROES AND (JREATHEARTS 

There, deep-hid in the praixie-grass, • 

Lay the nest of a meadow larh. 
Birdlings wee, in a fluffy mass, 

Hid 'neath her wings so warm and dark. 
Eight in the line of march they stood — 
Little mother- and tiny brood. 

That was all; but e'en rough hearts heed 

Gentle acts, and these softlier beat 
For their General's simple deed. 
Done for love in its dim retreat. 
That was all; hut in Custer's wake 
Eode meek men — for a mother bird's sake. 

— Julie M. Lippman. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 247 

THE MONTANA MAN AND HIS HORSE. 

A gentleman relates this incident: "I was traveling on the 
cars when I met a man with whom I engaged in conversation. 
He proved to be a mining engineer and prospector, who was 
born in Montana and had spent all his life in the mountains 
in search of gold mines. 

"His face had the ruddy hue of health, which attested the 
benefits of bracing mountain air and an active out-door life. 

"He told an interesting story about a horse that he once 
owned. The horse was a beautiful animal, but would bite and 
kick and stamp so badly that no one could go near him, except at 
great risk of getting hurt or even being killed. 

"The Montana man thought he could tame this horse and 
bought him for twenty-five dollars against the advice of his 
friends. He managed to get a saddle on him and to get him out 
of doors and then jumped on his back. The horse went through 
all his wicked tricks to throw him off, but the Montana man was 
too good a rider and could not be thrown. 

After a while the horse got tired. Then his master jumped 
from his back and, instead of beating and kicking him as the 
horse expected, he gave him several big lumps of sugar and 
patted his head and neck. In a short time this savage, bad horse 
became as gentle and docile as a kitten and would do anything 
he could to please his master. 

"In relating the incident, the Montana man said: 'The man 
who abuses his horse is a brute.^ ^' 



248 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

THE SHIP AND THE SEAGULL. 

The brave old skipper walked the deck, 

His daughter by his side, 
As night came down with gloomy frown 

Upon the waters wide. 

And merrily the ship went on 

Before the wind so free; 
But the skipper knew that a storm was nigh 

By the wash of the surging sea. 

And the storm came out with a shriek and a shout. 

And the billows hissed and boiled, 
As along their black and their ridgy back 

The good ship strained and toiled. 

*^0, father dear V she cried, and clasped 

The skipper's horny hand ; 
*^I wish that we saw the lights on shore, 

I wish we were near the land.'" 

"Nay, nay, my child; when the storm is wild, 

It is better far to be 
Long leagues away from the shallow sands — 

Away from the rocky lee." 

/ There was no star in all the sky 

To guide the lonely bark. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 249 

As on she drove before the storm, 
. So dreadful and so dark. 

"Oh, is it a fancy, my father, dear — 

Do I wake or do I dream — 
For in the lulling of the storm , 

I heard a strange, wild scream !" 

The skipper grasped his daughters arm, 

And leaned with list'ning ear — 
Upon the blast again swept past 

The scream, so strange and clear. 

"Down with the helm !" he shouted loud ; 

"Down, or we drive on shore I 
For I hear the screaming of the gull 

Above the tempest's roar.'' 

Down went the helm, round went the ship 

With a heavy lurch and strain; 
And away it sped from the shore so dread 

To the open sea again. 

"My daughter, let us join to thank 

Our Father dear in Heaven, 
Who unto us so manv things 

Hath in His mercy given. 



250 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

'^He sent that bird, whose scream we heard 

Amid the stormy roar, 
To tell US danger was at hand, 

And warn us from the shore. 

"My daughter, there are thoughtless men, 

And cruel ones as well. 
Who slay the birds that on the shore 

Of the wild ocean dwell. 

"Ah, let them but remember child. 

That every bird they slay 
Might, had it lived, have saved some ship, 

In some wild night or day. 

"So let us thank our God, who sent 

These wild sea-birds, to be 
The friends of every one who sails 

The wide and trackless sea.*' 

—R. P. S. 



HEiROES AND GREATHEABTS 251 

A SCENE IN BOME. 

W. W. story, the American sculptor, lived in Eome for man} 
years, and has given a very interesting description of a custom 
called the blessing of animals which is held every year. 

The horses, mules and donkeys are taken to the church of St. 
Antonio to receive a blessing from the priest of the church. He 
says the doors are thrown wide open and the church and the 
altar are resplendent with candles and the crowd pours in and 
out. 

The priest stands at the door, and as the animals pass 
in procession before him they receive his benediction. All the 
horses in Rome are there, from the common hack to the high 
bred steed of the prince, some adorned with glittering trap- 
pings covered with scarlet cloth and tinsel and tufts and plumes 
of gay feathers nodding at their heads. 

The donkeys come, too, and often bray back their thanks to 
the priest. And here, too, are the great black horses of the 
cardinals, with their heavy trappings and scarlet crests, to receive 
the blessing of Saint Antonio. "All honor to thee, good saint, 
who blesseth in thy large charity, not man alone, but that humble 
race who do his work and bear his burdens, and murmur not 
under his tyrannical inflictions." 

Mr. Story thinks this custom makes the people more kind- 
hearted and gentle, and causes them to love and care more for 
the animals about them which do their bidding. 

— Adapted. 



152 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

GBACIE AND THE BLtTEBIBDS. 

"Why didn't God tell them, mamma?'' 
Said Graeie, in sad surprise, 
As she stood by the window and saw the snow 
On the earth and the air and the skies. 

"Tell whom, my little girl, Gracie ? 
Who was it you wanted told?" 
"Why, the poor little bluebirds ! don't you know 
I'm afraid they have died in the cold ! 

" 'Twas only yesterday morning 
I heard them singing so gay ; 
I suppose they were sure that spring had come 
And winter had gone away. 

"They looked so pretty and happy, 
All flying and hopping around; 
I think they were going to build their nests. 
And were picking up straws from the ground. 

"Why didn't God tell them, mamma, 
— That the snow was coming again? 

And teach them to wait in a warmer place, 
Till he sent the April rain?" 



"God knows what is best for birdies, 
As well as for vou and me ; 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 253 

And, Gracie, I think they are hidden away, 
All safe, where we cannot see. 

"The spring is as sure as ever. 

Though we did not expect the snow ; 
And we and the bluebirds can wait for God, 
For he loves us well, we know. 

"By and by, when the storm is over, 
You may scatter some crumbs about; 
And if any hungry bluebird is near 
I think he will find them out. 

"And soon, when the snow is melted. 
They will all come back again ; 
And grass will grow, and birdies will know 
They have not waited in vain. 

"God doesn't tell birds nor people 
WHiat storms are coming some day; 
He wants them to wait, and trust in Him, 
For he knows the very best way !" 

Little Gracie thought and listened, 

And the trouble went out of her eyes ; 
But she kept her watch at the window all day, 

Till the storm had gone out of the skies. 



254 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

And just at the cold gray sunset 

A "Peep-peep-peep!" was heard. 
And down on the doorstep for Gracie's crumbs 

Flew one little lonety bird. 

"You\e come for your supper !'' said Gracie : 
"God sent you, I guess ; He knows ! 
And, birdie, ;vou needn't be afraid. 
No matter how much it snows ! 

"Just shut your eyes and wait, birdie, 
Till God says 'Eeady !' Then fly 
And see how the grass will be growing green. 
All under the warm blue sky !*' 

— Jennie Harrison. 







;%w^:, "i 


MBIK^ 




i 



256 HEROES AND GREATHEART8 

THE LION. 

The lion is called "the King of Beasts'^ because of his great 
strength, noble appearance and marvelous voice. His roar is 
paid to strike terror in man and beast alike. 

Do you know in what parts of the world they live ? 

Although lions are usually very fierce, yet there are instances 
on record where they formed strong attachments to their keep- 
ers, and for dogs and other animals, which have been confined 
with them. 

A little dog was once thrown into a lion's den. The lion not 
only spared the dog's life but made him his. companion and fa- 
vorite. One day the lion was very hungry, and when food was 
brought for them the dog snapped at the first morsel, and this 
made the lion angry, and in a moment of excitement he dealt 
the dog a blow which killed him. From that time the lion pined 
away, would not eat and soon died, apparently of grief. 

There is an old Eoman story of a Governor who treated one 
of his slaves named Androcles so cruelly that he ran away to a 
desert and crept into a cave. To his horror, the cave was a lion's 
den, and a large lion came out toward him. He expected to be 
killed at once, but the lion came up and held out his paw as if 
to ask him to look at it. He looked it over and found a thorn 
in it and pulled it out. The lion was relieved of his pain and 
showed his gratitude, the same as a dog would to his master. 

After a time Androcles ventured back to the place where he 
used to live and was taken up as a runaway slave and was con- 
demned to be eaten up by a wild beast before a great crowd of 



HEEOES AND GEEATHEARTS 257 

people. A large lion had been caught and Androcles was thrown 
in a place where the lion was let in upon him. The lion came 
bounding up, and the people expected to see him torn to pieces. 
What was their surprise to see the lion fawn before him like a 
dog who had found his master. 

It was the same lion Androcles had met with in the desert, 
and the grateful animal would not hurt the man who had taken 
the thorn from his foot. — Adapted. 



GOLD LOC?KS' DREAM. 

One sunn}^ day, in the early spring, 
Before a bluebird dared to sing, 
Cloaked and furred as in winter weather — 
Seal-brown hat and cardinal feather — 
Forth with a piping song 

Went Gold Locks "after flowers.'^ 
"Tired of waiting so long,^' 
Said this little girl of ours. 

She searched the bare brown meadow over, 
And found not even a leaf of clover ; 
N"or where the sod was chill and wet 
Could she spy one tint of violet ; 
But where the brooklet ran 
A noisy swollen billow, 



258 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

She picked in her Uttle hand 
A branch of pussie-willow. 

She shouted out, in a happy way, 
At the catkins' fur, so soft and gray ; 
She smoothed them down with loving pats 
And called them her little pussy-cats. 
She played at scratch and bite ; 
She played at feeding cream ; 
And when she went to bed that night 
Gold Locks dreamed a dream. 

Curled in a little cosy heap, 
Under the bedclothes, fast asleep, 
She heard, although she scarce knew how, 
. A score of voices "M-e-o-w ! m-e-o-w !" 
And right before her bed, 
Upon a branching tree. 
Were kittens, and kittens, and kittens, 
As thick as they could be. 

Maltese, yellow, and black as ink; 
White, with both ears lined with pink ; 
Striped, like a royal tiger's skin ; 
/- Yet all were hollow-eyed and thin; 
And each one wailed aloud, 
Once, and twice, and thrice: 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 259 

"We are the willow-pussies; 
0, where are the willow-mice?^' 

Meanwhile, outside, through branch and bough, 
The March wind wailed "M-e-o-w ! m-e-o-w !" 
'Twas dark, and yet Gold Locks awoke, 
And softly to her mother spoke : 
"If they were fed, mamma. 

It would be very nice; 
But I hope the willow-pussies 
Won't find the willow-mice !" 

— Clara Doty Bates. 



LORD SHAFTESBURY. 

Lord Shaftesbury was a prominent English statesman. He 
was rich, talented and powerful, but he used all his great gifts 
to help the weak and unfortunate. 

When he w^as a young man there were thousands of poor little 
children working long days in coal mines and factories, and 
there were no laws to prevent it or to protect them from great 
cruelty. 

Lord Shaftesbury turned aside from a life of ease and pleas- 
ure and became the champion of these children. He went into 
Parliament and through his great influence, laws were passed 
which removed this great evil and many others. 

One day a little girl in London wanted to cross one of the 



26G HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

streets, but it was so choked with carriages, cabs and omnibuses 
that she could not cross alone without great danger of being- 
killed. 

She walked up and down looking into the faces of men, tr}dng 
to find some one who would help her. Some were hard and 
stern looking, some were in great haste and she did not dare 
to speak to these, but after a time she saw a kind-looking old 
gentleman and she went up to him and whispered timidly, 
"Please, sir, will you help me over ?" and the kind old gentleman 
helped her over. He was Lord Shaftesbury. 

Afterwards Avhen lie told the story he said, "That little girl's 
trust in me is one of the greatest compliments I ever had in my 
life.^' 



HEEOES AND GREATHEAKTS 261 

CHEER UP. 

A little bird sings, and he sings all day — 

''Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!" 
No matter to him if the skies be gray — 

''Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!'' 
He flies o'er the fields of waving corn, 

And over the ripening wheat: 
He answers the lark in the early morn 

In cadences cheery and sweet. 
And only these two little words he sings — 

"Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!" 
A message to earth which he gladly brings — 

"Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!" 

He sings in a voice that is blithe and bold — 

"Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!" ' 
And little cares he for the storm or cold — 

"Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!" 
And when in the winter the snow comes down, 

And fields are all frosty and bare. 
He flies to the heart of the busy town, 

And sings just as cheerily there. 
He chirps from his perch on my window-sill — 

"Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!" 
This message he brings with a right good-will — 

"Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!" 



262 HEBOES AND GEEATHEARTS 

This dear little messenger can but say 

''Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!" 
As over the housetops he makes his way — 
"Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!" 
Oh, let us all learn from this little bird 

A lesson we surely should heed ; 
For if we all uttered hut one bright word . 

The world would be brighter indeed! 
If only Earth's children would blithely say 
"Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!" 
How Jolly a Avorld would ours be today — 
"Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!" 

— Eva Best, in Child-Life. 



264 HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 

ROBERT BURNS' LOVE FOR ANIMALS. 

The poet Burns belongs to the world, and wherever our lan- 
guage is spoken his poems and songs are read and sung. But 
to the Scottish people he is especially dear, and no other native 
of that country is so highly honored throughout the civilized 
world. Born in a lowly thatched-roof cottage, he came to a 
home of grinding poverty. Placed at hard toil on a farm from 
childhood, he lived a laborious, plodding life, made harder by 
his own folly and waywardness. 

Yet in spite of all, his genius burst forth, and he has left 
poems which are imperishable. Plowing in the field one day, 
the plow upturned a field-mouse^s nest, and as he saw the soft 
nest torn to pieces and the helpless young mice thrown out of 
their snug home as if by some convulsion of N'ature, his heart 
was stirred with a great pity, and he wrote the poem, "To a 
Mouse, on Turning Up Her Xest With the Plow\'' 

He wrote an elegy on the death of his pet ewe, and a New 
Year's salutation to his old mare "Maggie," showing how his 
heart went out to these dumb friends. 

He saw a wounded hare pass by, and wrote a poem venting 
his indignation against the cruel sportsman. 

He heard a thrush sing on a January morning, and the song 
awakened the melody in his own heart, which he embodied in a 
poem. 

And thus this child of genius showed the love and tenderness 
of his nature for the dumb creatures about him. 



HEKOES AND GKEATHEARTS 265 

WHEN OLD JACK DIED. 

When Old Jack died we stayed from school (they said 

At home we needn't go that day), and none 

Of ns ate any breakfast — only one, 
And that was papa — and his eyes were red 
When he came round where we were, by the shed 

Where Jack was lying, half way in the sun 

And half-way in the shade. When we begun 
To cry out loud, pa turned and dropped his head 

And went away : and mamma, she went back 

Into the kitchen. Then, for a long while. 

All to ourselves, like, we stood there and cried; 

We thought so many good things of Old Jack, 

And funny things — although we didn't smile 
We couldn't only cry when Old Jack died. 

When Old Jack died, it seemed a human friend 

Had suddenly gone from us : that some face 

That we had loved to fondle and embrace 
From babyhood, no more would condescend 
To smile on us forever. We might bend 

With tearful eyes above him, interlace 

Our chubby fingers o'er him, romp and race, 
Plead with him, call and coax — aye, we might send 

The old halloo up for him, whistle, hist, 
(If sobs had let us), or, as wildly vain. 
Snapped thumbs, called ^^Speak," and he had not replied ; 



266 HEEOES AND GREATHEAETS 

We might have gone down on our knees and kissed 
The tousled ears, and yet they must remain 

Deaf, motionless, we knew, when Old Jack died. 

When Old Jack died it seemed to us, some way, 
That all the other dogs in town were pained 
With our bereavement, and some that were chained 
Even, unslipped their collars on that day 
To visit Jack in state, as though to pay 

A last sad tribute there ; while neighbors craned 
'J'heir heads above the high board fence, and deigned 
To sigh "Poor dog V' remembering how they 
Had cuffed him when alive, perchance, because, 
For love of them, he leaped to lick their hands — 
Now that he could not, were they satisfied? 
We children thought that, as we crossed his paws. 
And o'er his grave, 'way down the bottom-lands, 

AVrote ''Our First Love Lies Here'' when Old Jack died. 

^'ames Whitcomh Riley. 



HEEOES AND GREATHEAETS 267 

DICK MARTIN, THE BRAVE IRISHMAN. 

About one hundred years ago a very learned and eloquent 
lawyer named Lord Erkskine, who was a member of the British 
Parliament, was so shocked at the terrible cruelty to animals 
which he saw everywhere about him, that he thought that some- 
thing should be done to prevent it. 

At that time there were no laws to protect animals from cruel 
usage, and most men felt that if they owned animals they 
could abuse and torture them in any way they pleased, and no 
one had any right to interfere. 

As Lord Erskine was one of the most powerful members of 
Parliament, he thought that he would try to get a law passed to 
prevent cruelty to animals, and he made one of his most elo- 
quent speeches in favor of it, but the other members thought 
that it was foolish to notice the sufferings of animals, and made 
so much sport of Lord Erskine and his speech that nothing was 
done, and he gave the matter up in despair. 

About eleven years after, there was a member of the House 
of Commons from Galway, Ireland, whose name was Eichard 
^lartin, but whom every one knew as ^^Dick" Martin. 

He was noted for two things — his love of animals, and liis 
readiness to chastise any one whom he thought insulted him. 
He was warm-hearted and impulsive, and like Lord Erskine, he 
pitied the poor animals which were so cruelly used everywhere 
he went, and decided that he would try to get a law passed to 
protect them. He made a speech in the House of Commons, but 
he had not gotten very far before he was interrupted by jeers 



268 HEEOES AND GREATHEARTS 

and laughter, just as Lord Erskine had been eleven years before. 
Mr. Martin stopped his speech and turning round said that he 
should be very much obliged to the gentlemen who had insulted 
him if they would give him their names. There was silence at 
once, but no names were given, and Mr. Martin went on with 
his speech and was not disturbed any more. 

The result of that speech was the first law ever passed for the 
prevention of cruelty to animals, and from that time the spirit 
of mercy has been extending over the civilized world. 

, All honor to the brave Irishman who so nobly began the good 
work. 



"Whene'er a noble deed is wrought. 
Whene'er is spoken a noble thought 

Our hearts in glad surprise 

To higher levels rise: 
The tidal wave of deeper souls 
Into our inmost being rolls. 

And lifts us unawares 

Out of all meaner cares." 



HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 26S 

THE LOVE OF aOD. 

Searching- for strawberries read}^ to eat, 
Finding them crimson, large and sweet, 
What do vou think I found at my feet, 
Deep in the green hillside? 

Four hrotvn sparroius, the cunning things, 
Feathered on breast and back and AAdngs, 
Proud of the dignity plumage brings, 
Opening their four mouths wide. 

Stooping lower to scan my prize, 
Watching their motions with curious eyes. 
Dropping my berries in glad surprise, 
A plaintive sound I heard. 

And looking up at the mournful call, 
I spied on a branch near the old stone wall. 
Tumbling and twittering, ready to fall, 
The poor little mother bird. 

With grief and terror her heart was wrung, 
And while to slender bough she clung, 
She felt that the lives of her hirdlings hung 
On a more slender thread. 

Ah hirdie, I said, if you only knew. 

My heart was tender and warm and true ! 



270 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

But the thought that / loved her hirdlings too. 
Never entered her small brown head. 

And so through this world of ours w.e go. 
Bearing our hurdens of needless woe, 
Many a heart heating heavy and sloiv. 
Under its load and care. 

And oh, if we only knew 
That God is tender and warm and true, 
And that He loves us through and through. 
Our liearts would be lighter than air. 

— Author unknown. 



One little act of kindness done. 

One little kind word spoken, 
Has power to make a thrill of joy 

E'en in a heart that's broken ! 
Then let us watch these little things — 

And so regard each other, 
That not a word, nor look, nor tone 

Shall wound a friend or brother. — &. 



HEROES AND GEEATHEAETS 271 

THE DOCTOR'S HORSE. 

A prominent doctor in Winnipeg had a horse which he called 
his partner in business for about twent}^ years. One stormy 
night the doctor had a "hurry'' call from one of his best pa- 
tients, who lived in the outskirts of the city, a mile or more 
away. He drove full speed, dashed up to the front of the house, 
jumped out, threw the blanket over the horse, gathered up his 
instruments and rushed into the house, leaving his partner 
unhitched as he always did. 

He found his patient was an aged grandmother, who had 
fallen and dislocated her shoulder, and the doctor worked on 
her for three hours before he could leave her. 

In the meantime the blanket had blown off the horse and 
there was a cold sleet, which froze and made a coating of ice 
wherever it fell. 

When the doctor went out he found the horse there, and his 
head was turned towards home. In the morning they saw from 
the tracks of the carriage that during the three hours of that 
pelting and freezing storm the horse many times had 
started for home, and then turned back, sometimes a quarter of 
a mile, and sometimes half a mile, and could not bear to leave 
the doctor. 

— Adapted. 



272 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

SOMEBODY'S MOTHER. 

The woman was old and ragged and gray, 
And bent with the chill of the winter's day ; 
The street was wet with a recent snow 
And the woman's feet were aged and slow. 
She stood at the crossing and waited long, 
Alone, nncared for, amid the throng 
Of human beings who passed her by, 
Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye. 
Down the street, with laughter and shout. 
Glad in the freedom of "school let out," 
Came the boys like a flock of sheep. 
Hailing the snow piled white and deep ; 
Past the woman so old and gray 
Hastened the children on their way; 
Xor offered a helping hand to her. 
So meek, so timid, afraid to stir 
Lest the carriage-wheels or the horses' feet 
Should crowd her down in the slippery street. 

At last came one of the merry troop — 
The gayest laddie of all the group: 
He paused beside her and whispered low : 
"I'll help you across if you wish to go." 
/^ Her aged hand on his strong young arm 
She placed; and so, without hurt or harm, 
He guided the trembling feet along. 



HEKOES AND GBEATHEARTS 273 

Proud that his ovn were firm and strong. 
Then back again to his friends he went, 
His young heart happ}^ and well content. 
"She's somebody's mother, boys, you know, 
For all she's aged and poor and slow^; 
And I hope some fellow will lend a hand 
To help my mother, you understand. 
If ever she's poor and old and gray. 
When her own dear boy is far away." 
And somebody's mother bowed low her head 
In her home that night, and the prayer she said 
Was : "God be kind to that noble boy, 
Who is somebody's pride and somebody's Joy." 

— Selected, 



In the works of mercy that engage 

The minds and hands of thousands, we behold 

Signs of a blessed future. 

— Bryant. 



274 HEKOES AND GREATHEARTS 

THE PIG AND THE DOG. 

Sailors are very fond of having some pet animals on their 
ship^ because the long journeys are so tiresome, and there is so 
little to amuse them that time passes very heavily. On a ship 
which sailed from India to England the sailors had two pets, 
one a dog named Toby and the other a pig. 

Yon would not think that a dog and a pig wonld be very good 
friends, bnt strange to say, these would eat from the same plate, 
lie down together side by side in the sun, and walk the decks 
together in the most friendly way. 

There was just one thing which they quarreled about, and that 
was this: Toby had a very nice' kennel, which the sailors liad 
made for him to sleep in, but the pig had none, and he could 
not understand why Toby should have a house to sleep in while 
he had to lie out of doors on the deck. So he would watch his 
chance and slip into Toby's kennel while he was away, and when 
Toby got ready to go to bed and came to his house, the pig was 
already in and kept him out. 

One day the weather was very stormy, it blew hard and the 
great waves dashing against the ship made it roll from side to 
side, and besides it was raining hard, so that the deck was slip- 
pery, and the poor pig was slipping and tumbling about in a 
very unpleasant way. 

In the afternoon, long before bedtime, he thought that the 
best/tmng he could do would be to get safely into Toby's kennel 
for the night. He managed to pick his way to the kennel, but 
Toby had the same thought and was already in his house. 



HEBOES AND GREATHEAETS 275 

Now some people think that pigs are very stupid and do not 
know much, but they are mistaken. The pig did not like the 
idea of slipping and sliding on the deck all night, so he set his 
wits to work to find a way how to get in the kennel. Of course 
the hard thing was to get Toby out, and this is the way he did it. 

He went to the plate where their food was placed for them 
and carried it some distance from the kennel and yet in sight 
of the dog. He then stood with his tail turned towards the dog 
and began to make a noise as if he was eating a fine dinner. 

Toby pricked up his ears and saw the pig put his head down 
to the plate and champ as if he were eating something good. 
Toby thought to himself, "if there is any dinner there, I want 
some of it," and jumped out of the kennel and went to the plate. 

The cunning pig was watching his chance and slipped back, 
and then dashed for the kennel and got in before Toby could 
get there. We don^t know whether pigs laugh, but if they do, 
he must have had a good fit of laughing when Toby came to his 
house and tried to get in, but could not. 

Of course this was very selfish in the pig, but pigs are pigs, 
and we can't expect anything else from them, but boys and 
girls can do better and ought to have an obliging spirit and 
to be ready and willing to rlo kind things for others, even if it 
gives them trouble to do it. 



276 HEROES AND OREATHEARTS 

THE DOG AND THE TRAMPS. 

A gentleman who lives near Boston, is the owner of a large 
St. Bernard dog. Some distance awa}- lives a widow all alone, 
who is very much afraid of tramps as they pass her house on 
the way to Boston. 

The gentleman, knowing that she is afraid, whenever he sees 
a person looking like a tramp coming down the road, says to 
his dog: "Jack, go over to Mrs. Holt's and sit on her piazza 
until the tramp goes by." 

The dog understands what his master says and goes over to 
Mrs. Holt's house and sits on the piazza. If the tramp comes 
through the gate he goes forward and growls, and generally this 
is enough, for the tramp is likely to turn about and leave as soon 
as possible. The dog then waits until the tramp gets out of 
sight and then goes home. 

Is there not great difference in dogs as Avell as in boys? This 
dog has the manners and spirit of a gentleman. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 277 

WHO OWNS THE FARM? 

We bought the house and the aj^ple trees, 

And the spring where the cresses grew ; 
The old stone wall and the slope of grass 

All studded with violets blue. 

We bought and paid for them honestly, 

In the usual business wa}-; • 
"Twas settled, we thought, yet there are some 

Who dispute our title each day. 

A phoebe came to the eastern porch; 

Where T loitered one sunny day. 
And told me that porch was hers, not mine. 

Just as plainly as bird could say. 

That she didn't want me prying there 

Into all her family affairs, 
And asked me by pert little gestures, 

If I had no family cares. 

The vireo perched high above me, 

•In the great branchings apple tree. 
And said : ''I am here, I'm here, I'm here," 

As though 'twere important to me. 

And then he most saucily asked me. 
^AVho are vou?'' in such an odd wav 



278 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

That I felt quite like an intruder, 
And I hadn't a word to say. 

A pair of robins have made their home 

In that very same apple tree, 
And they plainly tell me every day 

That they don't care a straw for me. 

x4nd a pair of chippies think the limbs 

Are exactly the proper height ; 
They've been looking round some time, I know. 

For a suitable building site. 

What right have we in this place, think you. 
When the crows make free with our corn. 

And the brown thrush says "good-by" each night. 
And the blue jays call us at morn ? 

The chimney belongs to the swallows. 

The piazza's owned by the wren; 
We'll take care to see our title's clear, 

When we purchase a farm again. 

-^Kate M. Post. 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 279 

LOED NELSON. 

Lord Xelson lived a little more than one hundred years ago. 
He was the most famous sea-fighter that the world has ever 
known. He gained victory after victory when the odds were 
against him. His services to his country were so important 
that honors and rewards were showered upon him by a grateful 
nation. 

This great hero knew not'fear, still he had a kind and gentle 
heart. His men almost idolized him, and at one time, when his 
ships were lying on the Northern Coast of Sardinia, he won the 
hearts of the people in the villages on the coast by his many 
acts of kindness and consideration. Afterwards these people, to 
show their good will towards him, gave him all the assistance in 
their power. 

When he left home to take command of the fleet, just before 
the battle of Trafalgar, he wrote in his diary : "At half past 
ten drove from dear, dear Merton, where I left all which I hold 
dear in this world, to go and serve my King and country. May 
the great God whom I adore enable me to fulfill the expecta- 
tions of my country; and if it is His good pleasure that I should 
return, my thanks will never cease being offered up to the throne 
of His mercy. If it is His ,sood providence to cut short my days 
upon earth, I bow with the greatest submission, relying that He 
Avill protect those so dear to me that I may leave behind. 

"His will be done. Amen." 

Before the battle opened, when his ships were all in readiness, 
Xelson went down to his cabin and on his knees he wrote in his 



280 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

diary : "May the great God whom 1 worship grant to my coun- 
try and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious 
victory ; and may no misconduct in any one tarnish it ; and may 
humanity, after victory, be the predominant feature in the Brit- 
ish fleet. For myself, individually. I commit my life to Him who 
made me, and may His blessing light upon my endeavors for 
serving my country faithfully. To Him I resign myself and 
the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend.'' 

About an hour after the battle had begun he was struck by a 
musket ball, but not before the victory had been assured. He 
was carried from the deck; while his life's blood was pouring out, 
and he knew that he had but a short time to live. One of his 
favorite officers was a brave young man named Hardy, who was 
soothing and comforting him all he could in his last moments. 
Just before he died he whispered, "Hardy, kiss me," and then 
his lips moved and they could just hear his dying words, "Thank 
God, I have done my duty," and then the fearless heart was 
stilled forever. 

Some boys think it is brave and manly to be cruel and unkind, 
but many of the great heroes of history show that such boys are 
mistaken, for like the gallant Nelson, nearly all have kind 
hearts. 



HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 281 

THEY DIDN'T THINK. 

Once a trap was baited 

With a piece of cheese ; 
It tickled so a little mouse 

It almost made him sneeze. 
An old rat said, "There's danger — 

Be careful where you go !" 
"Xonsense V' said the other, 

"I don't think you know." 
So he walked in boldly ; 

Nobody in sight, 
First he took a nibble, 

Then he took a bite, 
Closed the trap together, 

Snapped as quick as wink, 
Catching mousey fast there, 

'Cause he didn't think. 

Once a little turkey, 

Fond of her own way, 
Wouldn't ask the old ones 

Where to go or stay. 
She said : "I am not a baby ; 

Here I am half grown; 
Surely I am big enough 

To run around alone !" 
Off she went; but somebody, 



282 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

Hiding, saw her pass; 
Soon, like snow, her feathers 

Covered all the grass; 
So she made a supper 

For a sl}^ young mink, 
^Cause she was so headstrong 

That she wouldn't think. 

Once there was a rohin 

Lived outside the door, 
Who wanted to go inside 

And hop upon the floor. 
'"No, no," said the mother, 

"You must stay with me ; 
Little birds are safest 

Sitting in a tree." 
"I don't care !" said the robin. 

And gave his tail a fling; 
"I don't think the old folks 

Know quite everything !'" 
Down he flew, and kitty seized him 

Before he'd time to think ; 
''Oh !'" he cried, "Fm sorry, 

But I didn't flunk!'' 



Now my little children, 
You who read this song, 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 283 

Don't you see what trouble 

Comes from thinking wrong? 
Can't you take a warning 

From their dreadful fate, 
Who began their thinking 

When it was too late? 
Don't think there's always safety, 

Don't suppose you know more 
Than anybody knows 

Who has gone before. 
But when you're warned of ruin 

Beware of what's in store. 

— Author unhnown. 



If you cannot do a kind deed 
Speak a kind word ; 
If you cannot speak a kind word 
Think a kind thought. 




ROBIN REDBREAST 



From painting 'by 
Munier 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 285 

ROBIN REDBREAST. 

Good-bye. oood-bve to SiTiiiiiier I 

For summer"> nearly done; 
The garden smiling faintly, 

Cool breezes in the snn : 
Onr thrushes now are silent, 

Our swallows fiown away. 
But Eobin"s here in coat of brown, 

Anr] scarlet breast knot gay. 
Eobin. Robin Eedbreast, 

Robin dear ! 
Eobin sings so sweetly. 

In the falling of tlie year. 

Bright yellow, red and orange, 

The leaves come down in hosts; 
The trees are Indian princes. 

But soon will turn to ghosts ! 
The leatliery j^ears and apples 

Hang russet on the bough : 
It's autumn, autumn, autumn, late, 

'Twill soon be winter now. 
Robin, Robin Redbreast, 

Robin dear ! 
And what will this poor Robin do ? 

For pinching days are near ! 



286 HEROEfc^ AND GREATHEARTS 

The fireside for the cricket, 

The wheat-stack for the mouse, 
When trembling night winds whistle 

And moan all round the house. 
The frosty days like iron, 

The branches plumed with snow — 
Alas ! in winter dead and dark 

Where can poor Robin go ? 
Robin, Robin Redbreast, 

Robin dear ! 
And a crumb of bread for Robin 

His little heart to cheer. 

— William Allingham. 



Better to hope, though the clouds hang low, 

And to keep the eyes still litfed: 
For the sweet blue sky will soon peep through 

When the ominous clouds are rifted. 

— Mrs. M. A. Kidder 



HEROES AND GEEATHEAETS 287 

DOaS AT WORK. 

One of the most painful sights which travelers see whilst 
visiting some parts of Europe, is to see the dogs harnessed to 
wagons with women. Very often the wagons and loads are large 
enough for a small horse, and then the poor dog, with his tongue 
hanging out, pants and strains himself to draw the load, until it 
seems as if he would drop from exhaustion. 

In the cities it is a common thing to see wagons, loaded witli 
milk, fruit or vegetables, drawn by dogs and women, the woman 
on one side of the tongue and the dog harnessed on the other 
-«ide. This is the most common in Holland and Belgium. 

It is only about sixty years ago that the use of dogs for draw- 
ing wagons in London. England, was abolished. But it is in 
the Arctic regions, where it is very cold, that dogs are the most 
useful. In that country there are great stretches of snow and 
ice for hundreds of miles, and there would be no way of travel- 
ing over them but for the dogs. 

The dogs have collars around their necks and to these are fast- 
ened ropes about twenty or thirty feet long, which are tied to a 
sledge, and it is wonderful what loads they can draw and how 
fast they can travel. Several dogs are harnessed to one sledge 
so that they have plenty of company, and sometimes the dogs 
quarrel and fight so as to get in a bad tangle, and then the 
driver has to separate them and make them behave themselves 
before he can continue his journey. 

At night the traveler sleeps in a bag made of warm fur and is 
quite comfortable, but the poor dogs have to be content witb a 



288 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

supper of frozen fish, and then sleep out of doors in the cold 
snow. Very often the sharp ice makes their feet very sore, and 
they suffer terribly. They have a hard life, for besides many 
hardships, some of their drivers are very cruel to them. 



Like unto ships far off at sea. 

Outward, or homeward bound are we 

Ah ! if our souls but poise and swing 

Like the compass in its brazen ring, 

Ever level and ever true 

To the toil and the task we have to do 

We shall sail securely and safely reach 

The fortunate isles, on whose shining beach 

The sights we see and the sounds we hear 

Will be those of joy and not of fear. 

— Longfellow 



HEEOES AND GEEATHEARTS 289 

LOST— THREE LITTLE ROBINS. 

Oh, where is the boy, dressed in jacket of gray, 
Who climbed up a tree in the orchard today, 
And carried my three little birdies away? 

They hardly were dressed, 

When he took from the nest 
My three little robins, and left me bereft. 

wrens ! have you seen, in your travels today, 
A very small boy, dressed in jacket of graj-. 
Who carried my three little robins away? 

He had light-colored hair. 

And his feet were both bare. 
Ah me ! he was cruel and mean, I declare. 

butterfly ! stop just one moment, I pray : 
Have you seen a boy dressed in jacket of gray. 
Who carried my three little birdies away? 

He had pretty blue eyes. 

And was small of his size. 
Ah ! he must be wicked and not very wise. 

bees ! with your bags of sweet nectarine, stay ; 
Have you seen a boy dressed in Jacket of gray, 
And carrying three little birdies away? 

Did he go through the town. 

Or go sneaking aroun' 
Through hedges and by-ways, with head hanging down ? 



290 HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 

boy with blue eyes, dressed in jacket of gray ! 
If yon will bring back my three robins today, 
With sweetest of mnsic the gift I'll repay; 

I'll sing all day long 

My merriest song, 
And I will forgive yon this terrible wrong. 

Bobolinks ! did you see my birdies and me — 
How happy we were on the old apple-tree. 
Until I was robbed of my young, as you see ? 

Oh, how can I sing. 

Unless he will bring 
My three robins back, to sleep under my wing? 

—Author unhnmcn. 



HEROES AND GREATHEAETS 291 

LAMERTINE'S LAST SHOT. 

Lamartine was one of the most distinguished poets and states- 
men of France. This is how he describes his last shot : 

"A harmless happy roebuck bounded joyously over the wild 
thyme on the verge of the wood. Now and then I could see him 
above the heather, pricking his ears, butting in play, warming 
his dewy flanks in the rising sun. and browsing on the young 
shoots, in his innocent revel of solitude and safety. 

I am a sportsman's son and spent my boyhood with my fa- 
ther's gamekeepers. I had never thought about the brutal in- 
stinct that leads man to find amusement in slaughter, and to 
. destroy without necessity, justice, pity or right animals who 
might equally claim to hunt and slay him if they were as ruth- 
less, well armed and savage in their pleasures as he is in his. 
My dog was on the alert, my gun pointed, the deer right ahead. 
I did feel a certain hesitation and remorse at cutting short such 
a life — such joy and innocence in a creature that had never 
harmed me, and that delighted in the same sunshine, the same 
dew, the same morning freshness, as I did ; created by the same 
Providence, perhaps endowed in a different degree with the same 
thought and sensibility, perhaps bound in the same ties of af- 
fection and relationship — looking for his brother, waiting for his 
mother, his mate, his little one. But Nature's recoil from mur- 
der was overborne by the mechanical instinct of habit. I fired. 
The roebuck fell, his shoulder broken by the shot, and his blood 
reddening the turf on which he vainly struggled in his agony. 

When the smoke dispersed I approached, pale and shudder- 



i>«>i' HEEOES AND GREATHEAETvS 

ing at my misdeed. The poor, lovely creature was not dead. It 
looked at me, its head sunk on the grass, its eyes swimming in 
tears. Never shall I forget that look, to which amazement, suf- 
fering, and untimely death seemed to give a human depth of 
feeling quite as intelligible as words — for the eye has its lan- 
guage, and most of all when about to close forever. That look 
said distinctly, with a heart-rending reproach for my wanton 
cruelty, ^What are you? I do not know you; I never offended 
you. Perhaps I should have loved you. Why have you struck 
me with death? Why have you snatched from me my share of 
sky and hreeze, of light and joy and life ? What ivill become of 
my mother^ my mate, my fawn, ivaiting for me in the brake, to 
see only these torn tufts of hair and these drops of blood on the 
heather? Is there not up above an avenger for me and a judge 
for you? And still while I accuse you, I forgive. There is no 
anger in my eyes ; my nature is so gentle, even towards my mur- 
derer; there is but amazement, pain, and tears." 

"This is literally what the eyes of the wounded deer seemed to 
say. I understood and reproached myself as if it had spoken 
with a voice. Tut an end to me now,' it seemed to say, too, by 
the grief in its eyes and the helpless shiver in its limbs. I would 
have given anything to undo what I had done. Alas ! the most 
merciful close to my pitiless work was to shoot my poor victim 
once more, and so put it out of its misery. Then I flung the 
gun away, and in truth shed tears of which I am not ashamed. 
My dog knew something of my meaning ; he did not stir, but lay 



HEROES AND GREATHEARTS 293 

beside me sad and abashed, as if he mourned with me and the 
victim of this cruel, wanton sacrifice. 

•'I abandoned forever the brutal pleasure of murder, the sports- 
man s savage despotism whicli without need, right, or pity, takes 
away the life that he cannot restore. I swore to myself never 
again to cut short in my caprice an hour of sunshine enjoyed 
by these denizens of the woods, and by the birds of heaven, who 
taste, like us, the transient ecstasy of light and the more or less 
vague consciousness of existence under the same sky as our- 
selves." 



Oh, if there is one law above the rest 
Written in wisdom — if there is a w^ord 
That I would trace as with a pen of fire 
Upon the unsunn'd temper of a child — 
If there is anything that keeps the mind 
Open to angel's visits, and repels 
The ministry of ill — 'tis human love. 

—N. P. Willis. 



294 HEEOES AND GREATHEARTS 

LITTLE GUSTAVA. 

Little Giistava sits in the sun^ 
Safe in the porch^ and the little drops run 
From the icicles under the eaves so fast, 
For the bright spring sun shines warm at last, 
And glad is little Gustava. 

She wears a quaint little scarlet cap, 
And a little green bowl she holds in her lap. 
Filled with bread and milk to the brim, 
And a AA^eath of marigolds round the rim, 
"Ha ! ha !'' laughs little Gustava. 

Up comes her little gray, coaxing cat, 
With her little pink nose, and she mews "What's that ?" 
Gustava feeds her — she begs "for more ; 
And a little brown hen walks in at the door : 
"Good day !" cries little Gustava. 

She scatters crumbs for the little brown hen. 
Then comes a rush and a flutter, and then 
Down fly her little white doves so sweet, 
With their snowy wings and their crimson feet : 
"Welcome !" cries little Gustava. 

So dainty and eager they pick up the crumbs, 
But who is this through the door-way comes? 



HEEOES AND GEEATHEAETS 295 

Little Scotch terrier, little dog Eags, 
Looks in her face, and his funny tail wags : 
^^Ha ! ha !" laughs little Gustava. 

''You want some breakfast, too ?'^ and down 
She sets her bowl on the brick floor brown, 
And little dog Rags drinks up her milk. 
While she strokes his shaggy locks like silk, 
"Dear Rags ?' says little Gustava. 

Waiting without, stand sparrow and crow. 
Cooling their feet in the melting snow : 
•'Won't you come in, good folks?" she said. 
But they were too bashful, and stayed outside. 

Though "Pray come in!" cried Gustava. 

So the last she threw them, and knelt on the mat; 
With doves and biddy, and dog and cat. 
And her mother came to the open house door : 
"Dear little daughter, I bring you some more. 
My merry little Gustava !" 

Kitty and terrier, biddy and doves. 
All things harmless Gustava loves, 
The shy, kind creatures 'tis joy to feed. 
And, oh ! her breakfast is sweet indeed 
To happy little Gustava. 

—Celia Tliaxter. 



296 HEEOES AND GREATHEAETS 

HOW ANIMALS MAKE THEIB TOILETS. 

Did you ever see a cat wash her face with her paws and then 
clean herself and smooth down her fur with her tongue, which 
is rough and almost as good as a clothes brush? 

When dogs, foxes and wolves think it the proper time to clean 
up they scratch themselves with their front and back paws, and 
they seem to feel as much refreshed as if they had taken a bath. 

Men who have traveled in the Arctic regions, where the seals 
live, and who have noticed their habits when they are on shore, 
tell us that they spend as much time in making their toilets as 
a woman does. 

The elephant has such a thick and hard skin that it looks 
as if it would never need washing, but the elephant does not 
think so, for he wants a bath as often as possible, and the way he 
does it is to fill his mouth with water and then spirt it all over 
himself with his long trunk, which he can turn in all directions. 

In certain parts of Egypt there are a great many crocodiles, 
and they live very largely on fish. They have long, pointed teeth, 
and very often pieces of fish or other food get in, or between 
their teeth, just as it does with us. You know how unpleasant 
it is for us to feel that pieces of food are between our teeth, and 
so we use a toothpick at the proper time. The crocodile cannot 
use a toothpick if he had one, and you could never guess how 
he gets his teeth clean. All he has to do is to open his mouth 
wide, and a bird called the plover comes and flies into his mouth 
and picks out the pieces of food, and gets his dinner in that 
way. 



HEROES AND GEEATHEARTS 297 

Mice have long whiskers, which they comb out as carefully 
with their hind legs as a man does with his comb. 

The cow has a rough tongue, almost as good as a brush, and 
seems to take a great deal of pains to keep herself clean, if she 
is out in the field where she can do as she pleases. 



There was never a night without a day, 
Nor an evening without a morning; 

And the darkest hour, the proverb goes, 
Is just before the dawning. 

—Mrs. M. A. Kidder. 



298 HEROES AND GREATHEAETIS 

LITTLE TROUT. 

'Twas a gay little trout 

That one morning gave out 
He could shift for himself, and could catch his own flies ! 

Said his mother, "Take care. 

And of anglers beware !'* 
For his mother was steady and cautious and wise. 

"Oh, humph V gurgled Trout, 

Splashing boldly about, 
"The very first fly that I see I shall snap 

Mother foolishly thinks, 

^Twixt her naps and her winks, 
That everything tempting is meant for a trap !" 

Off he went to the Falls, 

Where he made many calls. 
Where he raced with the minnows and danced with the perch, 

Whilst he did not forget 

He was hungry, as yet 
Tliough no fly, worm or cricket rewarded liis search. 

In the brook^s deepest flow, 
Lying hid down below, 
Ti/ed, at last, slept the Trout, though his eyes did not close. 
When there dropped from a stump. 



HEEOES AND GKEATHEAKT8 299 

With an innocent plump, 
A crimson-hued fly, pausing over his nose. 

Little Trout, all alert, 

Dashed at once, with a flirt. 
At this morsel that promised so sweet a repast. 

Nay, he stopped not to look 

For a possible hook, 
80 he found himself airily dangling at last ! 

• He was luckily small, 
And not wanted at all. 
Thus he found himself back in the brook, in great pain. 
I am sure he grew wise 
As he increased in size, 
Do you think that he ever was captured again? 

— Author unknown. 



300 iiehoh:s and gkkatheakts 

THE POWER OF INSECTS. 

Have you never wondered how a little fly could keep pace 
with the swiftest horse, and yet they can and do. How fast 
their little wings must move, and how much strength they must 
have, or they would soon be tired out. 

A little fly is said to fly faster than a swallow which tries 
to catch it. 

In Africa there are little ants which build houses twent> 
feet high. 

A little fly, so small that we can hardly see it, has been found 
to move three inches in half a second, and it is estimated that 
if a man could run as fast as the fly can move, in proportion 
to his size, that he would travel twenty-four miles a minute. 

We get very hungry if we miss our dinners, and we should 
think it dreadful if we had to go a whole day without food, but 
a spider can live ten months without food. We think v/e are 
strong, but a little beetle can lift two hundred times its ow^n 
weight. If a man could lift as much in proportion to his size, 
he could pick up a railroad freight car and carry it easily. 



AUG 171908 



